Insecticide/Pesticide, Antibiotics, Industrial Chemical, Aflatoxins and Physical Contaminants by Dr.J.Roopavathy

2. When we talk about quality, It does not restrict ourselves to the
bacteriological but also physical and chemical quality of raw milk before it
reaches even the first chilling station
As per the definition of adulteration the presence of residues of
pesticides, heavy metals, antibiotics, aflatoxins, drugs, hormones, etc in excess
quantities indicates adulteration
As these residues are not inherent to milk so directed measures
should be employed so that these residues can be eliminated and even if they
are present, their level does not exceed the established standards
Insecticide
Pesticide
Contaminant Antibiotics
Industrial Chemicals
Aflatoxins
Physical Contaminant

5. Insecticide/Pesticides are the chemicals which are used to kill insects
/ pest to save the crop.
When these chemicals are used irrationally could prove injurious to
the health of the consumers
Dairies should have infrastructure like gas liquid chromatographs
having electron capture detector to detect organo – chlorine pesticides like
DDT, aldrin, dialdrin, HCN, BHC, etc
The standard laid down by the PFA for pesticide residues in milk and
milk products should be adhered to
This is only possible if we have the commitment and infrastructure
to check the residue levels.
Dairies are not adding or removing pesticides, the message has to
flow to the farmers about the uses and their harmful effects if used in excess

6. The use of certain pesticides have been prohibited because the residues of the
chemicals may pass into the milk
Likewise, certain sprays for crops which will later be eaten by milch animals
have been prohibited or their use permitted only at certain periods of
development because they may be recovered in the milk supply
During 1960s it was reported that milk frequently contained pesticides,
however, their levels were well below the safety limits
However, some reports in India have indicated that the residues of the
pesticides do sometimes exceed the permissible limit prescribed by PFA

7. In recent year, the dairy industry has come to use considerable
quantities of antibiotics in the treatment of animal diseases,
notably mastitis
When such treatments are made, the milk from the treated
animal is not supposed to be used for human consumption for
at least 72 hours following the treatment
If such milk is added to milk from untreated animals before
the 72 hours period is completed, residual antibiotics may be
detected in the entire supply
These antibiotics may enter the milk or other dairy products
has serious health implication and hence they must be used
only as specified
Penicillin apparently has greater influence on public health
then other antibiotics in common use and thus has held the
main interest in developing test procedures for residual
antibiotics

8. Toxic industrial chemicals are a source of environmental contamination and also source
of serious exposure to certain works places
Heavy metals, for example, lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, etc have been reported in
milk and milk products
These environmental contaminants are harmful/toxic if they are ingested in higher
concentration than what is prescribed by PFA act
Lead and mercury are most frequently studied because they have been the cause of
infant poisoning through milk.
Lead is the single most common heavy metal pollutant of environment
In general, urban dwellers are at greater risk than rural residents
Higher values of lead in milk of urban population compared to rural ones, and higher
values in colostrum compared to mature milk, have been reported
At world level, concerns are being expressed for their harmful effects and their
prescribed limits are being lowered frequently in order to ensure that the food available to the
consumers is safe

9. Aflatoxins are fungal metabolities found as toxic contaminants of foods
Aflatoxins are produced by the common moulds, Aspergillus flavus and A.
parasiticus by virtue of their ability to produce aflatoxin
These can be secreted in milk by the milch animal which has been fed with
aflatoxin containing feeds

10. Physical contaminant/hazards found in milk and milk products could be metal
fragments, glass, wood splinters, stones, dirt, plastics, insects, etc
The presence of these can cut the mouth, break teeth, cause choking or
perforation in the alimentary tract
If proper care is taken during production, transportation, processing and
handling these physical contamination can be avoided