An invisible and deadly threat is silently entering the dairy supply chain in Punjab, raising urgent public health concerns. Veterinary experts have issued a stark warning that traditional methods like boiling milk are completely ineffective against a class of potent, heat-resistant carcinogens known as aflatoxins.
The Invisible Killer in Your Milk
These dangerous toxins cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted. During a crucial 'One Health' brainstorming session held at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Gadvasu) in Ludhiana, scientists detailed the alarming pathway of contamination. It begins when cattle consume feed—like maize or peanuts—infected with Aspergillus fungi, ingesting Aflatoxin B1.
The animal's liver then converts this compound into Aflatoxin M1, which is excreted directly into the milk. Dr Jasbir Singh Bedi, Director of the Centre for One Health at Gadvasu, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that standard heat treatments, including pasteurisation and boiling, do not destroy these resilient fungal metabolites.
Storage Crisis: Creating Fungal Factories
The root cause, experts clarify, is not the cow but poor storage conditions in cattle sheds. These practices create ideal 'fungal factories'. Key high-risk factors identified include:
- Storing cattle feed directly on damp ground or against walls.
- Inadequate ventilation leading to high humidity.
- Keeping silage for months without proper moisture control.
Dr J S Hundal, Head of Animal Nutrition at Gadvasu, pointed out that India has a strict legal limit for aflatoxins in milk, set at 0.5 parts per billion (ppb). To ensure feed stays safe, farmers must dry grains and fodder to below 12% moisture before storage, making prevention at this stage absolutely critical.
Scientific Fightback: Binders and Detection
While preventing fungal growth in feed is the primary goal, scientists are advocating for a secondary line of defence: aflatoxin binders. These are chemical additives mixed into cattle feed. They work inside the animal's gut by trapping the toxin, preventing its absorption into the bloodstream and, consequently, its secretion into milk.
In a major move to protect public health and the dairy industry, Gadvasu is launching a significant collaborative project. The university will partner with IIT Delhi, IARI, and PGIMER Chandigarh for a comprehensive three-year study under the National One Health Mission.
The ambitious aim of this collaboration is to develop a portable detection device. This tool would empower farmers and regulators to test for toxins instantly at the point of sale. As part of this project, Gadvasu will also conduct extensive mapping of aflatoxin levels across Punjab to pinpoint contamination hotspots.
The message from Ludhiana is clear: combating this silent carcinogen requires a shift from reliance on traditional methods to modern scientific intervention and stringent storage protocols, safeguarding especially vulnerable populations like children and the elderly from liver damage and cancer.
