Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) has found the packaged milk sold in Kathmandu adulterated with chemical contaminants such as washing soda and detergent chemicals.

During its recent market monitoring, the department collected samples of 42 packets of packaged milk from 25 different milk processing industries and found presence of Bicarbonate, Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic soda) and Sodium Carbonate used as neutralizer.

“Any of these three harmful chemicals might have been mixed in the milk,” said DFTQC spokesperson Purna Chandra Wosti.

The department had raided 4 dairies following complaints that harmful chemicals were being used in packaged milk.

A technician at the laboratory of a Kathmandu-based dairy industry said various refrigeration centres, cooperative operators, contractors and processing units have been using such alkaline products to prevent the milk from curdling. “The cooperative manager collects milk from faraway places and it cannot be transported on a single trip,” said the technician, “So they use chemicals like caustic soda to prevent the milk from curdling.”

According to the technician, they have even detected sugar, salt and urea apart from the caustic soda in the milk which is brought to Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, the Department’s food standard directive bars the dairy industries to even mix water in the milk.