The Lahore High Court (LHC) has sought reply from ministries of Health and Livestock, City District Government Lahore (CDGL) and other respondents within fortnight in a petition challenging the supply of adulterated milk. Petition was filed by Dr Muhammad Yaqoob Bhatti, member Central Executive Watan Party Pakistan.
His counsel Barrister Zafarullah Khan submitted that food department reports that 80 percent milk supplied to the older, younger and babies consumers is poisonous.
He said that according to data 19,718 samples of milk collected by the food department almost 17,529 samples were found adulterated, contaminated and virtually poisonous.
Counsel relied upon a report published in a daily newspaper on February 04, 2009 that stated that dairy farms, milk supplying companies and other sources add various chemical and unhygienic materials in the milk, which varies from one supplier to another.
Adulterants includes urea, or melamine, sub-standard cooking oil, powdered singharas, unhygienic water, formalin (a chemical used to preserve human body), penicillin for enhancing the thickness and fragrance of milk, hair removing powder, zoonotic pathogens, soda bicarbonate (to improve the taste), urea to lend it uniformity and melamine added as protein booster.
Zafarullah pointed out that this tainted milk is being sold since last many years in Pakistan and nobody seemed to have taken any effective step to supply clean milk and the respondents seemed to have unmoved by the consequences and melamine has caused kidney stones or kidney failure, especially among infants.
Counsel said that single dose of pure melamine is unlikely to kill, ingesting even modest amounts over cause bladder or kidney damage, leading to renal failure and even cancer and deaths.
Counsel prayed to the court that supply of suck milk should be stopped forthwith for human consumption and all such supplies and corporation must be banned immediately. Counsel further prayed that arrangements should be made to increase the growth of livestock and even no meat days may be increased to minimise unnecessary sacrifices.