Extent of extraneous water and detection of various adulterants in raw milk during supply chain and its impacts on milk physical characteristics

The study's objective was to recognize the various adulterants and their effects on the physical characteristics of the raw milk available in the city. The milk dealers, especially in the developing countries usually involved in milk adulteration practices in order to increase their profit margins, which poses significant health hazards.

A total of 189 samples of raw milk were gathered across Karachi's five districts. Milk adulteration testing kit were employed for various adulterants detection and its physical impacts on milk was analyzed by the AOAC methods.

The milk samples from selling points had the highest levels of adulteration, followed by those from transportation cans and storage tanks at dairy farms. Chemical adulteration impact on milk pH and specific gravity was very prominent while extraneous water showed significant impact on milk specific gravity rather than its pH. Average pH and specific gravity values of milk sample collected from storage tanks at dairy farm were normal, while it was out of range in the milk samples collected from transportation cans and selling points. As indicated that at the dairy farms had very few milk adulteration activities, whereas milk samples being transported and sold in stores had the highest number of fraud attempts.