MUMBAI, July 10: The humble milkman, who, it is assumed, supplies milk spiked with water, stands vindicated. Raids conducted by the Food and Adulteration department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation have revealed that packaged milk of the Aarey and Mahananda variety contain less of milk and more of water.``Those who transport milk in vans and and who man booths usually adulterate packaged milk like Aarey and Mahananda. They take advantage of the commonly held belief that once milk is packaged, it cannot be tampered with,'' said Dr Arun Patkar, Deputy Executive Health Officer, BMC, who was in charge of conducting the raids.The milk is drawn out of the packet with syringes, and water is then injected into the packet, after which it is sealed by a tweezer-like contraption. ``Adulteration cases are high between June and August,'' added Dr Patkar. ``Vendors who sell milk loose are not a major problem. Adulteration is actually lesser when milk is sold loose,'' he remarked.As per the Prevention ofFood Adulteration Act, buffalo milk with a fat content less than six per cent and cow milk with 3.5 per cent is adulterated. Dr Patkar said if the water used is clean, the risks of illness spreading is lesser. ``Using unclean water will spoil the milk and people will stop purchasing such milk, which is bad for business,'' added Dr Patkar. Department officials said consumers are also responsible for adulteration. ``People sell empty milk packets to raddiwalas, which find their way to unscrupulous elements who refill them and sell milk,'' said a civic health officer. The BMC, which kicked off its raids in 1994, has nabbed 103 people so far. It has set up surveillance teams, comprising a sub-inspector and two constables from the Crime Branch, a civic official and six food inspectors to monitor milk shops and vans.
