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Hello Panditji,
I have heard that in some parts of India milk is made using shampoo and sold in open
markets. I would like to know about this?
Naomi Nandakumar
Via email
Dear Naomiji,
Adulteration of milk with a chemically synthesised milky liquid (synthetic milk) is a big
concern today. Synthetic milk is prepared by emulsifying vegetable oils with appropriate
amount of detergents, urea, caustic soda, sugar, salt etc. are dissolved in water and
blended with the detergent emulsified oil. This mixture is then mixed with natural milk in
varying proportions. The dairy industry employs various checks, but adulterers manage to get away because synthetic
milk is an excellent imitation of natural milk. Milk fat is mimicked by vegetable oil, the
nitrogen component in milk protein is mimicked by urea and the white colour is got by
shampoo. Detergents are added to make it frothy. Synthetic milk consumption leads to
kidney failure and liver damage. Local milk vendors in Uttar Pradesh mix 'Reetha' (a herb
used to shampoo hair) with refined oils like Chambal, Helicopter and Dhara and then add it
to a mixture of water, sugar, salt and urea. Sunsilk shampoo, caustic soda, starch and
paper pulp is another lethal concoction.
Dear Panditji,
I want to know how safe is free flowing refined iodised salt. I have heard that cynates
and silicates are added as anti-caking agents to make it free flowing. Also, is excess of
iodine in salt harmful for the human body?
D Kishore
Via email
Dear Kishorji,
Salt is prone to caking, due to its hygroscopicity. Above 75% relative humidity, it
absorbs water, forming brine on the surface of the crystals. Below this, it will lose
water, causing the brine to evaporate, leaving strong bridges of salt between crystals.
This leads to lumps and within a short time to solidification. While absorbent agents such
as silicon dioxide, some carbonates and phosphates can be used, the quantity needed and
the low solubility of such materials makes them undesirable for many applications.
 Should salt bridges form, these are very fragile and
easily broken when disturbed. Because the action is very specific, only very small
quantities are needed, amounting to little more than a mono-molecular layer on individual
salt crystals. Anti-caking agents have set standards under the food grade salt. In India
the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA) has set the guidelines for food grade salt
product respect of edible common salt, iodised salt and iron fortified salt, anti-caking
agents have been permitted in quantities not exceeding 2 per cent either singly or in
combination. The anti-caking agents usually used by the salt industries are silicates.
These are health hazards if above the prescribed limits, but fine if below that.
I just wanted to know if there
have been any campaigns on garbage segregation in Delhi by the Government, NGOs or other
groups.
Avani Purohit
Via email
Dear Avaniji,
Yes. Vatavaran has transformed Jawahar Lal Nehru University into an almost zero waste zone
by segregating waste and sending it for recycling and composting. Chintan is working with
NDMC in Nizamuddin, Connaught Place and Dilli Haat, where they take the help of rag
pickers. Toxics Link has done extensive research on waste management and segregation and
reproduced it in books. The Delhi Government has also started a waste segregation campaign
for households as part of the Bhagidari scheme. Come 2004, and it will be mandatory to
segregate your waste in your homes into the dry bin and the wet bin or face a fine! For
more information contact:
Vatavaran (Dr Iqbal Malik)
540, Hawa Singh Block, Asian Games Village, New Delhi 110049
Chintan (Bharti Chaturvedi)
17, Jungpura Mkt, New Delhi-110013
Toxics Link, H-2, Jungpura Extension, New Delhi 110014 |
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