Local Project

The adulteration of milk is a problem affecting Kenyans and many people all over the world. 1, 2 The problem is that some farmers and milk vendors add illegal substances (adulterants) to milk to prolong its shelf life or increase its volume quantity.3, 4 Adulterants like soap, starch, table sugar, detergent, urea, formalin, glucose, salt, water, etc are added to milk making it lose its nutritive value, organoleptic properties, and even hazardous for human consumption. The problem is on the rise because of existing market gaps in the demand and supply of milk products and is causing a significant public health issue.

Currently, adulteration of milk is determined using test kits that are based on reagents for colour detection and laboratory chemicals for qualitative analysis. Chemicals and reagents like hydrochloric acid, methylene blue, iodine solution, phenolphthalein, sodium hypochloride, etc. are used to determine the presence of table sugar, micro-organisms, starch, soap, ammonium sulphate respectively. These chemicals and reagents are non-reused once consumed making them costly. Again it takes time to transport milk samples to laboratories for testing and even setting up several milk tests. Furthermore, the test results require skilled labour to analyze and make interpretations.

Switching from using test kits and reagents to determine the presence of adulterants in milk to an automated Artificial Intelligent data product would have significant benefits in improving milk’s demand and supply value chain as well as cost benefits.