Distribution of Fluid Milk:: a Multidimensional Study

This is a multi-dimensional study that proceeded with the objective to study the quantity and quality of fuid milk distributed in Pondicherry, a capital city of an Union Territory, India. The study adopted triangulative methods seeking details from field survey, secondary data and experimental work. Seventeen brands of packet milk enter into this city most of them from neighboring states. Five toned packet milk samples and five fresh vendors' milk were purposely selected. The presence of solids- non-fat (SNF) was below the standard in all the vendors' milk. All the samples showed positive results for the presence of sodium chloride. Presence of cane sugar was confirmed in all the toned milk samples except one. Formalin was detected in toned milk samples. Two vendors' milk and four toned milk samples showed poor microbial quality when tested for Standard Plate Count (SPC) method. E. Coli bacteria were present in two toned milk and one vendors' milk sample.