LAUSR

Milk is one of the most nutritious drinks. Chemical agents are frequently added in fresh cattle milk for different purposes including preservation, viscosity and flavor. A research study was conducted in District Peshawar -Pakistan to investigate contributing role of chemical adulterants in fresh milk on nutrition status of under five year children. Total of 203 households, having under 5 years children (free from any chronic disease) were randomly selected. Fresh milk samples were randomly collected from the households and tested for the presence of chemical adulterants. Children's nutritional statuses were assessed taking measurements on weight, height / length, and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC). Children nutritional statuses were assessed comparing their anthropometric measurements with WHO growth standards. Other relevant data i.e. child feeding history, fresh milk consumption by children, medical history, and socioeconomic status of children families were collected interviewing heads of households. Data were analyzed in SPSS software; multiple regression models were used to estimate association between milk adulteration and children nutrition status. Chemical adulterants including formaldehyde, boric acid, urea and hydrogen per oxide were found in total of 77 (38%) milk samples. Children in the adulterated group (consumed adulterated milk > 6 month) had significantly lower body weight, MAUAC and weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) comparing with those in the non-adulterated group (p<0.05). Consumption of adulterated milk was among the risk factors for poor nutritional status identified through multivariate regression. It was concluded that consumption of adulterated milk contributed significantly to the poor nutritional statues of under 5 years children living in the study areas.