KATHMANDU – Recent market monitoring has shown a growing trend of mixing extreme amount of soda in milk, though it is common to use a little amount of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to keep the milk from spoiling during summer.
The use of such inedible substance in milk were found during the monitoring of dairies at the initiatives of Agriculture Minister Chakrapani Khanal earlier in May-June. But no effort has been taken to reduce the use of soda in milk even after the monitoring by minister. It has been revealed that some dairies are using washing soda and chemicals used in detergents in the milk. Though the food standard directives of the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has barred even the mixing of water in the milk, there is an alarming tendency of using inedible substances in the milk that will have direct effect on human health.
Effects of excessive soda on human health
The daily use of inedible substances like soda in milk is having a negative effect on human health. Though milk can be easily digested by human stomach, the use of inedible substances like soda in milk creates problems, doctors say. Doctor Jaya Pradhan said the use of soda in milk will affect the health because of excessive amount of sodium. She added the excessive presence of melamine in sodium can even cause the death of children. Further, the soda in the milk will affect the digestive system and creates problems such as indigestion, burning sensation and increase diabetes problems. Dr Pradhan said the soda also increases the rate of heart beat, shows direct effect on blood-pressure and causes spinning sensation. In addition to this, the excessive sodium decreases calcium level in body, and causes kidney failure, added Dr Pradhan.
Schools stop using packet milk
As the news of excessive use of soda in milk spread, some of the schools stopped the use of packet milk saying they found the uncontrolled mixing of soda in the milk that will have negative effect on the children’s health. Principle of Dhapashi-based Wonderland Pre-school, Yamuna Maharjan, said they have stopped using packet milk in recent time. “We have been hearing the news that packet milk companies are using inedible substances in the milk, so we stopped using packet milk and bring milk from open dairies for children,” she said. Besides this, many schools have been informing the parents that they have stopped feeding packet milk to the children.
Strict laws on the cards
Department of Food Technology and Quality Control Spokesperson Purna Chandra Wasti said they have taken legal action against the industries found mixing inedible substances in milk. He said the department has been mooting stern laws by amending the Monitoring Food Act to control such rampant use of inedible substances and take legal action against those involved in producing, selling, distributing, supplying unsafe food. He said the government is preparing to pass a law to impose Rs 50,000 fine and five-year imprisonment to those involved in producing and selling adulterated food.
According to Food Act-2023, any person involved in producing, selling and distributing substandard or inferior quality food products will have to pay a fine of Rs1000 to 5000 and or jail term of six months to one year, or both.
Similarly, anyone found guilty of producing, selling and distributing inferior and contaminated food item will be fined Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 or jailed for one to two years, or will be subject to both punishments.
Wasti said the existing legislation related to food safety is being amended in order to keep up to the changed context. However, the general public are not aware about the impact of excessive use of soda in milk. And the concerned bodies seem lackadaisical in their effort to effectively curb such malpractices. Even as the milk producing industries have been involved in uncontrolled use of inedible substances, National Dairy Development Board, the authorized regulating body to ensure quality and safety standards of milk, has been turning a deaf ear to such misconducts. The government officials blame the political protection for the difficulty in taking action against the dairy industries selling such substandard milk.
It is perhaps the first time that the use of excessive soda and detergent chemicals has been exposed to public. These issues had never been brought to public attention before. Though such issues get public attention once in a while, nobody has really paid serious attention to seek a long-term solution to address these problems. The failure to resolve these problems lies in the nexus between dairy operator and political leaders. It is high time that the government brought strict law and made the monitoring mechanism effective to curb the problem.
