Assam: Fake milk scandal exposes food adulteration network in Boko

What began as an everyday cup of tea has turned into a public health alarm in Boko town under Assam’s Kamrup district. A disturbing case of large-scale food adulteration has surfaced, exposing how several local tea stalls and hotels allegedly replaced real milk with a synthetic, chemical-laced substitute for years.

The revelation came after a vigilant student organization unearthed credible evidence showing that customers were being served a powder-based concoction posing as milk. Despite growing outrage, many hotel owners reportedly continue the practice, prioritizing profit over public safety.

According to sources, two men from the riverine Chamaria region have been the key suppliers of the fake product, distributing it to eateries across Boko for the past three years. Priced at ₹25–30 per litre, the adulterated mix offered an easy alternative to genuine milk, which costs nearly double in the open market. Shockingly, insiders claim hotel operators were fully aware of the substitution.

When confronted by locals and student leaders, the accused suppliers allegedly confessed to their role. Hotel owners, however, dismissed the allegations, claiming routine lactometer checks ensure milk purity—a claim experts say holds little ground since such tests cannot detect synthetic additives.

Inspections of adjoining sweet-making units further exposed appalling hygiene conditions—flies swarming over open containers, unclean utensils, and workers handling food without protective gear.

Local civic groups have demanded a full-scale probe and immediate administrative intervention. Residents, fearing long-term health consequences including digestive and cancer risks, are calling for stringent penalties against the culprits.