GO FOR SAFE HANDLING OF MILK AT HOUSEHOLD LEVEL: PAU EXPERTS
Author(s): City Air NewsLudhiana, September 1, 2016: The food science and technology experts of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have advised the public at large to go in for safe handling and storage of milk at household level. This...
Ludhiana, September 1, 2016: The food science and technology experts of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have advised the public at large to go in for safe handling and storage of milk at household level. This would also help in preventing spoilage of milk and improving its shelf-life.
According to the PAU expert, Dr Jaspreet Kaur, “Milk plays a vital role in providing good nutrition and maintaining health.” She suggested purchasing milk from a retail outlet of an organized dairy company or from a vendor, who generally delivers it at the doorstep. In both cases, reliability of the source should be confirmed, she stressed. Dr Kaur further said, “On-the-spot quality parameters while purchasing milk are appearance, odour and temperature. Milk having any unpleasant or unnatural colour or odour should be rejected. Raw milk should never be tasted for its flavor as it may contain harmful bacteria. Milk having temperature higher than 7°C indicates improper transportation and possible microbial growth.”
Elaborating, Dr Kaur warned that several illegal practices such as adulteration of milk with water, starch, urea and detergents are commonly practiced these days. Some of these adulterants may cause serious ill-effects to human health, she added. Hence, one should be very careful and purchase milk from a reliable source and get it tested occasionally from anaccredited milk testing laboratory, she advised. Branded milk is normally sold in polyethylene sachets that contain information about the type of milk, fat content, total solids/SNF and ‘use by date,’ she told. These should be carefully read while purchasing the milk and the package should be examined for leakage/tampering or intentional damage, she added.
Another expert, Dr Usha Bajwa said that after purchasing the milk, it should be transported to the household as quickly as possible under low temperature conditions, preferably in ice packs so as to prevent any rise in its temperature. On receiving loose milk purchased from a vendor, it should be strained through a clean sieve or muslin cloth into a clean vessel, she told. This would help to remove any undesirable material such as straw, husk or separated fat, she said. Dr Bajwa further said that milk should be poured and kept in a clean, corrosion-free vessel, preferably of stainless steel. Other metals such as copper or iron may react with milk and form chemical compounds that may be harmful to human health, she cautioned. Milk should be heated/boiled followed by immediate cooling for the purpose of consumption, she said.
While purchasing canned milk or UHT (ultra high temperature) treated milk, it is important to note the ‘best before date’ prior to purchasing and consuming, she told. Similarly, for milk powders and baby foods, opening of the pack, usage and storage should be done as mentioned on the label, she advised.