How to Check Milk Purity: 5 Simple Ways to Detect Adulteration

Milk is a staple in Indian households, packed with essential nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants. However, growing concerns about milk adulteration have made it crucial for consumers to ensure the milk they consume is safe. Contaminants such as water, starch, detergent, and even synthetic chemicals not only reduce milk’s nutritional value but can also pose serious health risks. The good news is that you can check the purity of milk at home with a few simple tests.

1. Water Test – Detect Diluted Milk

A quick way to check if your milk is watered down is the water test. Pour milk into a clear glass and hold it up to the light. If it appears unusually thin, watery, or overly transparent, this may indicate added water. Milk diluted with water loses both its taste and nutrients, making this an easy first check.

2. Starch Test – Identify Added Starch

Starch is sometimes added to milk to increase its thickness. To check, add a few drops of iodine solution to a cooled milk sample. If the milk turns blue, it contains starch. Starch adulteration affects digestion and reduces the milk’s nutritional benefits, so it’s best to avoid such milk.

3. Detergent Test – Spot Soap Residue

Some milk may contain detergent residues, which are hazardous for health. To test, pour a sample into a bottle, mix it with equal parts water, and shake well. Milk without detergent will produce only light, short-lived froth. Thick, long-lasting foam with bubbles indicates detergent contamination.

4. Boiling Test – Check Quality Through Foam

Boiling milk can reveal its authenticity. Pour milk into a shallow pan and bring it to a boil. Pure, high-quality milk produces a noticeable layer of foam. Milk that doesn’t foam properly may have been watered down or mixed with other substances, affecting its taste and safety.

5. Formalin Test – Ensure Chemical Safety

Formalin is sometimes added to preserve milk, but it is toxic. To detect it, take 10ml of milk in a test tube and add 2-3 drops of concentrated sulphuric acid. Pure milk remains unchanged, while the appearance of a purple or blue ring indicates the presence of formalin. Such milk is unsafe for consumption.

Ensuring milk purity is essential for your family’s health. Regularly performing these simple home tests - water test, starch test, detergent test, boiling test, and formalin test - can help you identify adulterated milk before it reaches your kitchen. Always prioritize high-quality milk from trusted sources and stay vigilant against contamination to safeguard your health.