Common Milk Adulteration in Developing Countries Cases Study in China and Sudan: A Review

Abstract

Food adulteration is a bigger problem faces the world and developing countries are higher risk related with this problem due to lack of good monitoring and policies. Milk in natural form has a high food value; it comprises nutrients, which are essential for proper growth and maintenance of the human body. Recently, there has been an upsurge in milk consumption worldwide, especially in developing countries, and consumption of milk is now forming a significant part of the diet for a high proportion of the global population. As a result of the most increased demands, high growth in competition in the dairy markets and increasing complexity of the supply chain, some unscrupulous milk producers are indulging in milk fraud. This malpractice has become a big common problem in the developing countries. Milk is often subjected to fraud (by means of adulteration) for lack of proper hygienic conditions of processing storage or financial gain, transportation and marketing. Water is the most common adulterant used which dilute and decreases the nutritional value of milk. If the water is contaminated, for example, with pathogens or chemicals, this poses a big serious health risk for consumers. To the diluted milk, inferior cheaper materials may be added such as milk powder, cane sugar and urea, even more hazardous chemicals including melamine, caustic soda, formalin, and detergents. These additions have the potential to cause serious healthrelated problems. This review aims to shows the impacts of milk fraud on nutrition and food safety in developing countries especially China and Sudan.