Hyderabad: The raw milk being delivered by the milkman to thousands of homes in the city every morning could be heavily contaminated with faecal bacteria, yeast, mould and even Salmonella — a bacterium that causes severe food poisoning and intestinal infections.This alarming finding has emerged from a new study conducted by the Hyderabad-based ICMR–National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), raising concerns over widespread microbial contamination in the city’s raw (bovine) milk supply chain.As part of the study, researchers tested 42 milk, 20 water and 24 cattle-feed samples. The results were alarming: 90.5% of them contained faecal coliform bacteria, 95.2% were contaminated with yeast and mould, one-third tested positive for Salmonella, nearly 31% contained staphylococcus aureus (a common bacterium that can contaminate food and cause food poisoning), and about 12% tested positive for E coli (can cause diarrhoea, other intestinal infections).The findings have put the spotlight on the entire dairy supply chain — from farmers and collection centres to wholesalers and retailers.“Water used to clean milk cans and dairy equipment was also found to be contaminated. Of the 20 water samples we tested, 95% showed bacterial growth, 70% contained faecal coliform bacteria and 60% had yeast and mould,” said Dr Bharati Kulkarni, director of NIN and one of the study’s authors.Ringing the alarm bell, she added that repeated consumption of contaminated milk could increase the risk of diarrhoea and other infections, particularly among infants and young children, whose immune systems are still developing.The study, conducted across Hyderabad’s Addagutta and Warasiguda areas, was carried out in collaboration with researchers from the Royal Veterinary College, the International Livestock Research Institute, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and other institutions. The findings have been published in the UK-based scientific journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.Adulteration linked to financial stressThe study also linked instances of alleged milk adulteration to the financial pressures faced by dairy farmers and an unequal marketplace in which large dairy companies wield greater bargaining power. Researchers found that rising cattle-feed costs and veterinary expenses have placed many farmers under severe financial strain, sometimes prompting the dilution of milk with water to increase volumes.Some respondents also alleged that substances such as urea and milk powder are added to milk at different stages of the supply chain.However, the researchers clarified that these allegations were based on interviews with people involved in the dairy business and were not independently verified through laboratory testing.“Some respondents may have mistaken normal milk processing practices for adulteration. Many farmers said that the rising cost of feed and animal healthcare has made it difficult to maintain milk quality while earning a reasonable income,” said Naveen Kumar Ramachandrappa, NIN scientist and co-author of the study.Farmers at a disadvantageResearchers said farmers without access to cooperatives or producer associations were particularly vulnerable, with limited bargaining power to negotiate better prices for their milk.They concluded that the lack of quality testing across the dairy supply chain, coupled with poor hygiene practices and the financial distress faced by farmers, poses a significant food safety risk to consumers.
