Beware, the milk you drink may contain deadly chemical

Hyderabad: Formaldehyde, a deadly chemical that is used to preserve corpses is being added in milk and dairy products. Around 600 litres of milk adulterated with formaldehyde was supplied to hundreds of hotels in the city for the past six months, police said.

This case came to light during raids conducted by food safety officers on a private diary in Kondamadugu village, Bibinagar mandal in Yadadri district.

Food safety and police officials after getting the milk test reports on Friday were shocked to learn that formaldehyde was being mixed in the milk. Bibinagar police arrested three persons and charged them with cheating, adulteration and selling spurious products, said Bibinagar inspector K. Saidulu.

For the first time formaldehyde was traced in milk, said Yadadri zonal assistant food controller V. Jyotirmayi.

The accused Kadem Kumar Yadav, manager of the milk collection centre, said formaldehyde was being used to prevent milk from spoiling. The other accused, P. Kali and G. Srinivas, used to mix sucrose and ammonium sulphate in Kumar Yadav's milk in order to increase the quantity

Meanwhile , sources disclosed that a BRS public representative from Bibinagar mandal called the food security officers and urged them not to file any cases against Yadav.

Jyotirmayi and district food safety officer Swathi along with local police conducted the raid two days back and sent the samples for tests. Even if there is no immediate threat to consumers, there is a risk of long-term diseases if milk is mixed with formaldehyde chemicals as it could lead to respiratory, gastrointestinal and liver disorders, Dr Madhusudhan Reddy, a senior doctor of Yadadri district said.

Jyotirmayi and Swathi warned of strict action against those selling adulterated milk.