ગુજરાતી
English
Author: Dilip Patel
The inspection and testing systems are woefully inadequate. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Dairy Board clearly reveals that India’s dairy economy harbors a “fake margin” of 500 million liters. An empire of adulterated milk is flourishing unchecked.
Let us launch a movement against this “White Lie.” If we aspire to be self-reliant, our first priority must be to halt the circulation of these 500 million liters of fake milk.
Approximately 140 million liters of milk are produced in the country daily, whereas consumption has soared to 650 million liters. The remaining 500 million liters are fake.
This is not milk; rather, it is a chemical cocktail being poured into our children’s bodies every day, delivered through their very glasses of milk. Across the nation, adulterators have turned the production of fake milk into a cottage industry. Composed of toxic chemicals such as urea, detergent, starch, soda, and formalin, this counterfeit milk bears a striking resemblance to the real thing.
More than 68 percent of the milk in the country has been found to be either adulterated or fake. Only 35 percent of the samples tested turn out to be genuine milk.
Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana are now collectively known as the “Fake Milk Corridor.”
By manufacturing this counterfeit milk, these individuals are reaping profits that are three to four times higher than normal. An entire economy built on milk adulteration has emerged.
Producers of genuine milk are being forced to shut down their businesses.
Ironically, the very state of Gujarat—the birthplace of the White Revolution—has now allowed it to morph into a “White Poison Revolution.” We are no longer driving a revolution of consuming milk for strength and vitality; instead, we are driving a revolution of consuming slow poison.
Operation White Poison
According to a government report from 2025, one in every three milk samples is adulterated. Adulteration was detected in 38 percent of the milk samples analyzed. By mixing water, detergent, urea, and hazardous chemicals, poison is being peddled in the name of health. Milk samples failed testing in 47% of cases in North India, 18% in the South, 23% in the West, and 13% in the East. There are only 230 laboratories available for testing across the country, despite there being 806 districts.
**White Poison**
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) released data in the Rajya Sabha regarding dairy products sampled over a three-year period (2023–24). In Gujarat, 15,841 samples were collected, 910 of which were found to be adulterated. Civil cases were filed against 847 individuals or entities, while criminal cases were registered against 31.
Adding oil to milk with a 3% fat content can artificially raise its fat level to 7%. According to FSSAI standards, milk should contain 3.5% fat and 8.5% Solids-Not-Fat (SNF); however, this composition is absent in counterfeit milk. While Gujarat boasts high milk production, it also suffers from high levels of adulteration. Major brands like Amul are generally perceived as safe, but this assumption does not always hold true.
**Subsidies Are to Blame**
Milk powder currently receives government subsidies, making it inexpensive; consequently, it is widely used on a large scale to thicken counterfeit milk. Therefore, these subsidies should be withdrawn immediately.
**Gujarat’s Neighboring States**
In 2019, three major dairies were caught manufacturing counterfeit milk. This adulterated milk was being supplied to branded milk processing units—including those of brands like Amul—across six states: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, and Maharashtra. Authorities seized 10,000 liters of counterfeit milk, 500 kg of fake *mawa* (condensed milk solids), and 200 kg of fake *paneer* (cottage cheese).
A total of 20 tankers and 11 pickup vans transporting counterfeit milk and other adulterated products were seized. Additionally, liquid detergent, refined oil, and glucose powder were confiscated.
In addition to the three factories manufacturing the counterfeit milk, raids were also conducted at two supply centers, resulting in the seizure of another 5,600 liters of fake milk. In Gujarat, 50 percent of the dairies selling Amul milk source their milk from neighboring states. Consequently, there is a very high probability that this milk is adulterated.
Therefore, the Amul Federation should issue a directive prohibiting the procurement of milk from outside Gujarat.
**Method of Preparation**
Adulterators pour shampoo into a container and whisk it thoroughly. They then add refined oil to it and continue whisking it vigorously along with the shampoo for an extended period. Subsequently, they add urea and mix it in with the shampoo and refined oil. After some time, once a milky-white liquid begins to form, one or two liters of actual milk are added to the mixture. To ensure that the milk does not curdle upon heating and has a longer shelf life, liquid acid—which is highly toxic—is also added. Hydrogen lubricant is also included in the mixture.
**Samples in Gujarat**
On October 23, 2019, 61 milk samples collected in Ahmedabad failed quality tests. This revelation emerged from the National Milk Safety and Quality Survey conducted in 2018. Out of 456 milk samples collected from 75 towns and cities across Gujarat, 53 percent failed to meet basic quality standards.
The FSSAI screened the samples for Aflatoxin M1—a toxin known to cause liver cancer. This marked the first instance in which the FSSAI specifically tested milk for the presence of such toxins.
In Gujarat, the highest number of samples—85 in total—failed the fat content test. Additionally, 208 samples failed the Milk Solids (SNF) test. Out of 113 samples of processed milk, 61 failed the quality tests. The survey also detected the presence of maltodextrin and sugar in five samples of processed milk; specifically, maltodextrin was found in five samples, and sugar was found in six samples. However, the presence of these substances is not considered unsafe.
Discrepancies in fat and SNF levels in milk may be attributed to the adulteration of the milk with water. More than 93% of the samples collected from across the country—5,976 out of 6,432—were safe for consumption. In Gujarat, antibiotics were present in four milk samples. Specifically, antibiotics were detected in one sample from Bhavnagar, two from Ankleshwar, and one from Surat.
Numana
In 2024–25, 12,000 cases were registered in India against those involved in milk adulteration.
Crime
2023–24
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FS
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has presented data in the Rajya Sabha regarding samples of dairy products collected over the last three years. The data reveals that the highest number of cases involving milk adulteration were reported in Uttar Pradesh. This is followed by Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Cases of milk adulteration have been detected in products such as *paneer* (cottage cheese), curd, sweets, and biscuits.
In Uttar Pradesh, during the year 2023-24, 16,183 out of 27,750 samples of milk and milk-based products failed quality tests. In comparison, 3,564 out of 18,264 samples failed in Rajasthan; 2,237 out of 18,146 in Tamil Nadu; and 1,297 out of 10,792 in Kerala. Action has been initiated against those selling adulterated milk in Uttar Pradesh, where 1,928 cases of adulteration have been registered. This is followed by Tamil Nadu with 944 cases, Kerala with 737, Maharashtra with 191, and Bihar with 174 cases.
Approximately 560 million liters of milk are produced daily across the country. In contrast, 650 million liters of milk and milk-based products are sold every day. The volume of milk and milk-based products sold is nearly five times the actual volume of milk produced.
Every day, 510 million liters of counterfeit milk are sold.
Assuming a price of ₹50 per liter, this amounts to ₹2,500 crore worth of counterfeit milk being sold daily.
The “adulteration mafia” reigns supreme. They operate with the complicity of corrupt government officials within the Food and Civil Supplies Department, a corrupt system, and complete political patronage. The entire system is entrenched.
In Gujarat, even after extracting the natural fat from milk, fertility-enhancing hydro-chemicals are added to artificially boost the fat content and ensure the milk remains thick or “fatty.”
Hydrogenated vegetable fat is frequently used to maintain the perceived fat content of the milk. Subsequently, with its fat content artificially inflated using chemicals, this milk is sold across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and even in Delhi. To facilitate this, large consignments of trucks laden with chemicals arrive nightly at several major dairies across the state.
In Gujarat, this illicit trade of extracting fat from milk is estimated to be worth between ₹300 and ₹400 crore per month. This figure is conservatively projected to reach ₹4,000 crore annually.
As many as 400 different products—including milk, ghee, butter, paneer, cheese, and ice cream—can be manufactured using chemicals.
Sweets made from adulterated milk are predominantly produced using chemical-laced milk and synthetic *khoya* (reduced milk solids).
Gopal Italia, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Visavadar, alleged that the Savaj Dairy in Junagadh produces only half of its milk supply internally; the majority of the milk sold is actually adulterated milk mixed with genuine milk. He noted that the supply of adulterated milk arriving from Maharashtra had recently declined.
The entire chain—ranging from milk-producing dairies to milk-purchasing dairies, unions, cattle shed owners, politicians, and ice cream manufacturing companies—is deeply implicated in this racket.
Gujarat
Across the entire state of Gujarat, an unchecked and illicit trade involving milk is flourishing.
Serious questions have been raised regarding the alleged collusion between cooperative dairies and private processing units. How does milk processed by private units find its way into government-run or cooperative dairies? Is this milk laced with synthetic chemicals? The Food and Drugs Department cannot plausibly claim ignorance regarding the existence of this extensive network.
4 Dairies Are Injecting 10,000 Liters of Adulterated Milk Daily, Profiting from Potentially Lethal Milk
Late at night, 220 liters of suspected adulterated milk were seized from a residence in the suburban area of Ingorala village, located in the Khambha Taluka of Amreli district. Raids were conducted on the cattle sheds and homes of individuals named Raju Rabari and Rana Bharwad. Quantities of adulterated milk were confiscated from two separate residences.
Investigators also recovered 200 kg of milk powder and vegetable oil—ingredients used in the production of this suspected adulterated milk.
The seized milk has been disposed of, and the police have officially registered the case. According to the FSL report, soybean, glucose powder, and various other chemicals were adulterated into the milk. This is the method by which the counterfeit milk was being produced.
This illicit trade is flourishing on a large scale in the remote villages surrounding Khambha Gir. Prior to this incident, significant quantities of counterfeit milk had already been seized from dairies located in various villages across the Khambha region. If the Food Department conducts intensive inspections in other villages of the taluka as well, there is a strong likelihood of major revelations regarding this illicit milk trade.
Amreli
A large quantity of counterfeit milk was discovered in the Vadiya region of Amreli district.
Khijadiya – Yuvraj Singh
In Khijadiya village of Amreli, 10,000 liters of counterfeit milk were seized; the FSL report subsequently confirmed the milk to be fake. The milk had been adulterated with soybean, glucose powder, and other chemicals. The entire stock of 10,000 liters of counterfeit milk was subsequently destroyed. A tanker containing suspicious milk was observed departing from a unit named ‘Dwarkesh’—located in Hanuman Khijadiya village within Amreli’s Vadiya taluka—and heading towards Bayad in the Aravalli district.
Prantij
An entire factory dedicated to the production of counterfeit milk was busted in Salal, within the Prantij area of Sabarkantha district. ‘Satya Dairy Products’ was manufacturing between 1,700 and 1,800 liters of counterfeit milk and buttermilk daily. These products were being packaged under brand names such as “Taza” and “Gold Milk” and were being distributed and sold across the entire state of Gujarat.
The milk was being manufactured using a mixture of detergent powder and urea fertilizer. The police have registered a case against the operators of the ‘Satya Dairy Products’ factory in connection with this matter and are currently initiating legal proceedings.
Junagadh
On March 18, 2026, a factory engaged in the production of counterfeit milk was uncovered at Premnagar Nes in Gundran village, Talala, within the Junagadh district. The accused, Ravi Karmata, was manufacturing 6,000 liters of counterfeit milk on a daily basis. He produced 3,000 liters in the morning and another 3,000 liters in the evening, amounting to a total daily output of 6,000 liters of counterfeit milk. 3,120 liters of adulterated milk, 260 kg of palm oil, 105 kg of milk-making powder, 16 kg of milk powder, and 78 large cans were seized.
The adulterated milk was being supplied to dairies in Talala.
Kalavad
On July 28, 2022, in the Kalavad Taluka of Jamnagar district…
A factory producing adulterated milk was busted in Haripar Mewasa. This counterfeit milk was being supplied to hotels and dairies in Rajkot.
For the past year and a half, they had been running this illicit operation by mixing milk powder, vegetable ghee (vanaspati), and other ingredients to produce fake milk.
Large quantities of milk, milk powder, vegetable ghee, and chemicals were seized during the raid. It was revealed that the adulterants—including fake ghee—were being mixed using a specialized machine.
Some time ago, a factory manufacturing fake and banned injections—intended to artificially boost milk production in cattle—was uncovered in Jamnagar. These injections were being supplied as far as Vapi and Valsad.
Idar
On November 29, 2025, a large quantity of adulterated milk was discovered in Singha village of Idar Taluka. More than 200 liters of fake milk, along with chemicals and equipment, were seized from a factory operating within a residential building. The police arrested Sunil Kumar Sharma in connection with this case. He used to prepare a liquid resembling milk by mixing soybean oil, maltodextrin, whey protein powder, urea, detergent powder, and white paint.
Approximately 700 liters of this adulterated milk were being distributed to neighboring villages on a daily basis.
Although only one vehicle was intercepted, the accused reportedly used to transport the milk in three such vehicles.
Furthermore, investigations revealed that the accused, Ashwin Sharma, had been supplying milk to various milk cooperatives (mandals) across different regions for the past 15 years. He himself was not a cattle farmer or dairy owner.
Bordi
On March 15, 2026, a tanker containing adulterated milk arrived at the Bordi Milk Cooperative. The milk was in the process of being unloaded into the dairy facility. This was the very same tanker that had been seized just a few days earlier in Hanuman Khichadiya village, yet it had subsequently managed to reach the Bordi Milk Cooperative within the same Bayad Taluka.
Panchmahal
On February 21, 2026, adulterated milk was being manufactured at the Panchmahal Dairy facility located in Ved village of Halol Taluka. The milk produced there was being supplied to the dairy facility in Ubharvan village. In the villages of Dhariya, Ghata, and Ved within Halol Taluka, private dairies were being operated to collect approximately 50 to 60 liters of milk daily. Subsequently, this milk was adulterated with artificial and counterfeit milk to increase its volume to around 200 liters. This mixture was then supplied to a dairy facility operated by Panchmahal Dairy in Nani Ubharvan village.
**Shahera**
On June 23, 2020, the Food and Drug Regulatory Department of the Shahera Municipality in Godhra uncovered a counterfeit milk manufacturing racket operating out of Shahera in the Panchmahal district. Dilip Parmar, the manager of an establishment named Kanya Dairy Farm, had rented a residential house from which he was selling counterfeit milk to customers.
Authorities recovered a bag of urea fertilizer, 10 pouches each of shampoo and cottonseed oil, and 50 empty pouches. Dilip—the son of the female Sarpanch (village head) of Narsana village—had been engaged in this illicit trade of counterfeit milk for over a year. He was running a black-market operation involving milk.
**Botad**
On October 19, 2023, 400 liters of counterfeit milk were seized from the outskirts of Bubavav village in the Ranpur Taluka of Botad district. The accused, Jejeram Santram Gondaliya, would mix water and milk powder, to which he would then add vegetable oil. The addition of a large quantity of milk powder served to thicken the mixture. By systematically blending this mixture with vegetable oil, he made it extremely difficult to distinguish between the genuine and the counterfeit product.
**Gondal**
In 2018, Anand Dairy—located in Vasavad village of Gondal Taluka—was found to be manufacturing counterfeit milk. A total of 800 liters of this adulterated milk was subsequently destroyed.
52-year-old Nathu Naran Ahir, along with his son Makan and Mehul Kishor Paltaniya, were producing counterfeit milk by mixing a powder known as ‘Datadom,’ Dalda ghee, soybean oil, and various chemicals. They would procure 500 liters of genuine milk from Sagar Dairy and mix it with 1,500 liters of their counterfeit concoction to produce a total volume of 2,000 liters. Authorities recovered 125 kilograms of milk powder and pouches of Sagar Milk from the premises. 10,000 Liters in Rajkot
In 2021, 10,000 liters of adulterated milk were being sold in Rajkot, transported via milk tankers fitted with concealed compartments from Mankad’s dairy. The police seized and destroyed 1,000 liters of this milk. The adulterated milk—which was mixed with oil, salt, and powder—was sold under the cover of darkness.
A case was registered against the milk consignor, Vijay Bhabhalu Mankad, and the driver, Rajabhai Gogan Toliya. Samples were also collected from the Shiv Shakti and Ashapura dairies.
Health Risks
The chemicals present in adulterated milk have long-term adverse effects on the kidneys, liver, and heart. Among children, there is a rising prevalence of digestive issues, compromised immunity, and calcium deficiency.
Adulterated milk acts as a slow-acting poison for the body. The bones are deprived of the natural nutrients they typically derive from the body’s internal processes. Consequently, the bones begin to weaken.
Test for Adulterated Milk at Home
To check the purity of milk, fill a bottle with it and shake it vigorously. If a layer of foam persists on the milk for an extended period, it indicates that the milk is adulterated. Conversely, if the foam dissipates within a few minutes of shaking, the milk is pure.
You can also determine the purity of milk using a lemon. To do this, heat the milk and add a few drops of lemon juice to it. If the milk curdles immediately, it is genuine; however, if it takes a significant amount of time to curdle, it may be adulterated. This test helps reveal whether synthetic substances have been used in the milk.
Boil 2–3 ml of milk in 5 ml of water. Once it has cooled down, add 2–3 drops of iodine tincture to the mixture. If the milk turns blue, it indicates the presence of starch. (Google Translation from Gujarati)
