Now, lead-laden milk!
It has been finally confirmed that the milk which we are consuming contains lead and cadmium, another heavy metal with equally dangerous potentials. This goes for both pasteurised and packaged milk being sold in the open market. Six government and non-government organisations with established credentials have carried out the tests and the results we feel are incontestable. We cannot but be concerned at the grave risk that people are being exposed to, children in particular.
There are two issues involved that need serious attention. First is the question of the process of production and the responsibility of the companies involved in it. While we understand that the raw material, the primary one at least, the milk, is obtained from the local farmers and may be contaminated at source, and that in no way do producers add these elements, it is the responsibility of the producers to see that all inputs at the preliminary stage of production are fit for consumption in all respects. They should ascertain the quality of the milk being put in the production chain. And we believe that the output is also supposed to be constantly examined for quality control. Therefore, either the process is faulty or it is inadequate to detect lead or any other heavy material in the milk, as apparent from the fact that marketed products from brand producers have been found to contain heavy metals.
The second issue is related to cow fodder. It is for the government to ascertain the source(s) of the contamination, since it is grass or other varieties of cow fodder, some of which may be imported products, that are ingested by cows. This has to be done quickly since there is very good chance that heavy materials found in cow milk may well find their way into the food chain. The issue has come to a head and brooks no delay.
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