The PCSIR (Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) conducted fitness for consumption tests on 16 milk brands which are given UHT (Ultra High Temperature) and Pasteurization treatments. PCSIR only found 6 brands fit for consumption, revelation made on Thursday in the National Assembly.
Why Use UTH & Pasteurization Treatments on Milk?
The primary reason why dairies companies use treatments like UHT is to increase its shelf life of packaged milk. UTH treatment requires the milk to be heated at 135 degrees Celsius to kill harmful bacteria.
Similarly, the process of Pasteurization is applied in which dairies is cooled to lower temperatures, a process said to facilitate preservation of microbes. These microbes make the milk good for human consumption and helps eliminate harmful ones.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Rana Tanveer Hussain, during a question answer session told the house that the PCSIR, in a written reply shared the tests it conducted. The tests were conducted on 16 different brands of packaged and liquid milk as per the directives of Supreme Court.
Six of the UHT treated brand categories tested included Olper’s, Nestle, Milk Pack, Day Fresh, Good Milk, Nurpur Original, and Haleeb Full Cream.
Findings for Cure UHT Tested Milk
All the UHT brands were considered safe to consume in Pakistan except Haleeb Milk because of ingredients like formalin and cane sugar.
Findings for the Pasteurized Milk
The Minister also shared findings for the tests conducted on Pasteurized Milk including brands like Anhar Milk, Daily Dairy, Doce Milk, Gourmet Milk, Nurpur, Nutrivi, Al-Fajar, Accha Milk, Prema Milk and Adams.
Out of all these brands only Prema Milk was found fit for human consumption.
The above shared findings have already been shared with Supreme Court in December 2016 by Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
These tests were conducted in response to a petition filed by Barrister Zafarullah Khan against the sale of substandard dairies and drinking water.
In his petition, Barrister Zafarullah Khan had claimed that Pakistani Citizens were consuming substandard milk which were contaminated with dangerous chemicals including detergent power. He further asserted that the use of these harmful chemicals could cause diseases like Hepatitis C and Cancer.
