Research Article
Muhammad Shoaib Akhtar, Hum
Abstract
Physicochemical and sanitary quality tests of the samples of milk sold at canteens of various hospitals and student hostels in Faisalabad city were determined by standard methods. The following average values for the major milk constituents were observed: fat, 3.44% and 3.74% ; protein, 2.74% and 2.52% ; lactose, 2.87% and 3.43% ; ash, 0.46% and 0.46%; total solids, 9.50% and 10.13% ; moisture, 90.48% and 89.86% in the milk samples obtained from hospitals and student hostel-canteens, respectively,. The test conducted for the evaluation of sanitary quality of these milk samples revealed the following results: Titrable acidity, 0.11% and 0.13%; total bacterial count, 534x10?/ml and 223x10?/ml. The time required for the reduction of methylene blue dye in milk samples collected from canteens of hospitals and student hostels were 2.20 and 3.01 hrs, respectively. The above-mentioned results have suggested that milk samples collected from the student and hospital canteens checked were being generally polluted and malpractice such as cream separation and adulteration with unhygienic water as evidenced from the low fat contents and their high bacterial count. It may be suggested that strict measures should be taken to stop supply of unhygienic and adulterated food at these public places.