Dr. Shehzad Amin, Chief Executive Officer of the Pakistan Dairy Association, has called attention to serious public health concerns after lab tests on loose milk sold in Karachi exposed widespread contamination and adulteration risks that undermine milk safety for consumers.
The joint sampling exercise by the Karachi Commissioner Office and the Sindh Food Authority collected 57 loose milk samples from wholesalers and retailers across the city. Laboratory analysis by the Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) found formalin in 21 samples, phosphate in 8 samples, and all 57 samples failed microbiological testing, a pattern that highlights unhygienic handling and systemic adulteration in the informal supply chain.
Dr. Amin commended the proactive initiative of the Sindh Food Authority and the Karachi Commissioner, and acknowledged the efforts of Director General Sindh Food Authority Shahzad Fazal Abbasi for his continued work on improving dairy controls. He stressed that these independent tests underline urgent gaps in milk safety that affect children, the elderly and families who rely on milk as a basic nutritional staple.
The Pakistan Dairy Association noted that loose milk typically lacks traceability, routine quality testing and temperature management, which increases the risk of contamination at multiple stages from farm to retail. By contrast, processed and packaged milk in the formal sector undergoes pasteurization or UHT treatment, regular quality checks and regulatory oversight designed to protect public health and ensure milk safety.
Calling for a structured response, the PDA advocates gradual conversion of the informal dairy sector into the formal sector, backed by enforceable hygiene standards, targeted enforcement against adulteration and the early implementation of a minimum pasteurization framework to safeguard consumers across Sindh and Pakistan.
Dr. Amin urged consumers to prioritise regulated dairy products and stay informed about the health risks associated with loose milk, reinforcing the association’s mission of Safe Milk, Safe Nation. He reaffirmed PDA’s commitment to work closely with regulators, policymakers and industry stakeholders to strengthen oversight, improve milk safety and secure safe, nutritious milk for every household.
