Though the authorities claim to conduct regular raids and collect samples of various edible products to ensure safe consumption by locals, adulteration in milk products and sweets continues to be a major issue in the state, especially during the festive season. However, some experts opined that there are some basic methods to detect such adulteration at homes. Recently, the food safety department found adulteration in several food samples most of which were milk and other dairy products.

 According to the secretary of Society of Pollution and Environmental Conservation Scientists (SPECS) Brij Mohan Sharma, there are some very cheap but effective methods to detect adulteration in various milk products which are consumed on a daily basis.  Informing about various methods to detect adulteration in milk, Sharma said that a lactometer that costs about Rs 20 can be used to detect how much percent of water has been mixed in it.

He said, “To detect the presence of urea in the milk, add some crushed Chana dal and a pinch of turmeric in some milk. If the milk turns pink, it means the milk contains urea. To detect the presence of starch in milk, cut a potato and put a piece into a milk sample. If milk turns violet, it indicates starch presence." Since the consumption of sweets increases during the festival, Sharma added that these tests can be conducted on cheese, Mawa and sweets prepared from dairy products too. He said that one needs to boil cheese, Mawa or sweets in some water and use that water to conduct the tests. Another test is to rub a portion of Mawa or cheese between your palms and if it does not feel greasy but rather feels rubbery, the sample is adulterated.

Yogendra Pandey, the senior food safety officer of food safety and drug administration (FDA) in Dehradun also informed that consumers can learn about such more simple tests through the website of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

He said that if any consumer detects any adulteration, she/he can file the complaint to FDA or can file an online complaint on its website. He added that identifying adulteration and filing complaints for adulterated food products by consumers can potentially lower the increasing rate of adulteration and help the authorities in taking action against the culprits.