A recent data released by the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control dubs the milk and milk products sold in the Valley as way below the government-prescribed standards. The Department found 51 samples (out of 83 samples) of milk and its products collected from the market as substandard. The pasteurised milk samples, for example, had low volume (high water content) and high presence of coliform bacteria. The standard of other products like cheese, butter, ice-cream, yoghurt and paneer too did not satisfy the researchers.

Consumption of highly contaminated milk and milk products can be fatal for humans since it is one of the chief causes of diarrhoea, food poisoning and stomach cramps. According to experts, contamination comes through as farmers use contaminated containers to collect and store milk. Unscientific transportation and improper storage system further degrade the quality of the milk. The problem seems to be emerging from two fronts. One, the consumers are often cheated by the producers, who are driven purely by profit motive, as most

consumers are not aware of the dangers of consuming such substandard products. And two, the government has not yet allocated adequate resources to control contamination. An issue concerning public health should not be taken so lightly. The authorities must do something concrete to maintain the quality of milk and milk products throughout the country on a constant basis.