Tukaram Mundhe reveals how caustic soda & shampoo are used to make synthetic milk and how the racket works

Milk is a staple in millions of Indian households, finding its way into everything from tea and coffee to curd, paneer and sweets. But concerns over milk adulteration have once again come into focus after Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe shared details of an alleged synthetic milk racket during a recent podcast with Food Pharmer.

Speaking about the issue, Mundhe claimed investigators had uncovered what he described as "parallel production lines" manufacturing synthetic or chemical milk using a combination of low-cost ingredients. He alleged that some operators were using skimmed milk powder, chemicals, emulsifiers, caustic soda and even shampoo to create a liquid that closely resembled milk.

According to Mundhe, producing this alleged synthetic milk costs significantly less than genuine milk, making it highly profitable for those involved in adulteration.

Maharashtra FDA steps up action against food adulteration

Since assuming charge as Maharashtra FDA Commissioner on 25 May, Mundhe said the department has intensified enforcement across the state.

According to multiple reports, the FDA has carried out 1,131 inspections, seized food products worth Rs 49.57 crore, and confiscated nearly 1.6 lakh litres of allegedly adulterated milk during its crackdown.

The commissioner said the department is conducting more than 20 inspections every day as part of its efforts to identify food adulteration and improve food safety standards.

How alleged synthetic milk is produced

During the podcast, Mundhe explained that investigators found a formula allegedly used to prepare synthetic milk.

According to him, skimmed milk powder is mixed with chemicals, emulsifiers that help bind ingredients together, caustic soda and other substances, including shampoo, to create a product that resembles milk in appearance and texture.

He claimed that producing synthetic milk resembling cow's milk costs around Rs 15 per litre, while milk made to match buffalo milk standards costs roughly Rs 30 per litre.

As genuine cow's milk is typically sold for Rs 40 to Rs 50 per litre, adulterating real milk with a cheaper synthetic alternative can substantially increase profits.

Calling the practice illegal, Mundhe described it as "absolutely illegal and absolutely pathetic".

Adulteration allegedly takes place at multiple stages

According to Mundhe, the alleged adulteration is not confined to a single point in the supply chain.

He claimed investigations indicate that milk may be adulterated at the farm level, milk collection centres and chilling centres before eventually reaching dairies or being used to manufacture dairy products.

He said this makes identifying the exact source of adulteration particularly challenging without a robust tracking system.

Why traceability could help tackle milk adulteration

Mundhe believes that making every litre of milk traceable is the most effective way to curb adulteration.

He explained that milk collection centres already maintain records showing which farmer supplied the milk, the number of cows or buffaloes owned and the quantity of milk collected, as required under existing regulations.

According to him, strengthening these records and ensuring complete traceability would make it much harder for adulterated milk to enter the supply chain.

Mundhe added that Maharashtra has already begun implementing stricter record-keeping measures, which he said are showing encouraging results.

How technology can strengthen milk safety

The FDA chief also highlighted the role technology could play in detecting suspicious milk supplies.

He explained that authorities can estimate how much milk a village should normally produce based on the number of dairy farmers, livestock and average milk yield. If procurement figures exceed the expected production, it could immediately signal possible adulteration.

Mundhe also referred to the National Digital Livestock Mission, under which animals are being tagged digitally.

According to him, linking these digital tags with milk procurement records would allow authorities to verify whether the volume of milk being collected matches the production capacity of registered animals.

He believes such technology-driven monitoring could significantly reduce milk adulteration and improve consumer confidence in the dairy supply chain.


Inputs from agencies