Clean Milk Consumption for Healthy Life

Cleanliness of milk implies freedom of raw milk from extraneous matters such as manure, dust, hay/straw particles and free from pathogenic micro-organism. Milk is a good source of energy and protein for our body as it contains important nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, vitamin B, potassium and vitamin D. Whole cow milk contains about 87.7% water and the remaining 12.3% contains proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

·         Water-87.7%

·         Lactose — 4.9%

·         Fat-3.4 %

·         Protein — 3.3%

·         Minerals — 0.7%

Raw milk is highly perishable and susceptible to various microbial contaminated vessels, water, flies, dirt etc. therefore, milk is pasteurised to preserve, by inactivation of enzymes and destruction of heat-sensitive micro-organisms but causing minimal changes to the nutritive value or sensory characteristic of milk at the same time. Raw milk is processed in Dairy Plants involving several steps to ensure that the marketed milk is hygienic and nutritionally beneficial to consumers. Processing also include toning of milk to maintain 3% Fat and 8.5% SNF as per ICMR recommendation. Processed raw milk is than marketed as Pasteurised Toned Milk (Single Toned Milk).

Some Common milk borne diseases are:

i. Tuberculosis:- caused by Mycobacterium bovis. Infection to man be directly by contacted with infected cow or indirectly by consumption of raw milk or milk products

ii. Brucellosis:- caused by Brucella abortus. Infection to man is through consumption of milk from infected cow.

iii. Streptococcal infection:- caused by Streptococcus agalactiae. Source of infection in man is through consumption of raw milk, insufficient heat treatment of milk. Milk products prepared from contaminated raw milk.

iv. Foot and Mouth disease:- caused by RNA virus. Diseases may be transmitted to man by contact with diseased animal or ingestion of infected cow milk. The infection in man produce symptoms like fever, difficulty in swallowing, blisters in mouth and hands.