Abstract
The chemical composition and hygienic quality of milk marketed at the can-teens of various educational institutions located in the city of Faisalabad, were de-termin.ed using the standard techniques. The following average values for the major milk constituents were observed: water, 92.99%; fat, 2.17%; protein, 2.48%; SNF, 4.84%; lactose, 1.79% and ash, 0.57%. The tests carried out for evaluating the hy-gienic quality of the. milk samples showed the following results: titrable acidity, 0.098%, microscopic count, 3,93,580 per ml and roliform count, 48492 per ml. The time for the reduction of methylene blue dye in milk samples collected from can-teens of educational institutions was: less than half an hour, 2.73%; less than two hours, 5.45%,; less than five hours, 1173% and over eight hours, 79.09%. The re-sults suggest that the milk sold at these canteens is extensively put to malpractices such as skimming and adulteration with water which are probably carried out during the handling of milk starting from milking till it reaches the consumers.
INTRODUCTION
Wholesome milk and milk products have an important place in supplying palat-able, refreshing, nutritious, safe, economical and convenient food to human beings. Milk can be digested by young and old, regardless of the status of their teeth. However, all the properties attributed above to milk would only be possessed by it when it is available in an unadulterated form and has been pro-duced under hygienic conditions.
Research on the chemical composition stems largely from the nutritional impor-tance of milk in the human diet and to meet the legal and marketing requirements gov-erning its sale. Legal minimum standards of 3.5 and 5.0% butter fat and 8i and 9.0% solids-not-fat for cow and buffalo milk re-
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spectively, were first introduced in this part of lndo-Pak subcontinent through Punjab Pure Food Act, 1930. One of the objectives of this food act was to assist in the detection of milk adulteration which is a common problem in many developing countries. Un-healthy practices in the production and han-dling of a product like milk not only lower its nutrient contents but also to a large ex-tent, make it unhygienic for human use. Supply of clean and wholesome milk at canteens in educational institutions is of cru-cial importance as the milk supplied is to be consumed by the young and rapidly growing students. Therefore, a study was planned to determine the chemical composition and hy-gienic quality of milk supplied to canteens at various educational institutions located in Faisalabad city.
