Coliform Bacteria in Milk: Are Popular Brands' Packaged Milk Safe to Drink? Know How to Check Purity at Home?

Concerns over the safety of packaged milk have intensified after an independent laboratory investigation reported serious microbiological issues in several popular brands. The findings, shared by a YouTube channel named Trustified on February 8, 2026, claim that some widely consumed pouch milk products contain bacteria levels far above limits set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Coliform Bacteria in Milk? Is Amul, Mother Dairy, Country Delight Milk safe To Drink?

The report has triggered debate among consumers, health experts and food safety observers, especially as millions of households rely on packaged milk daily.

According to Trustified, independent microbiological testing was conducted on different branded milk samples to assess whether they comply with FSSAI safety benchmarks. The tests focused on:

Coliform bacteria is an indicator of contamination and poor hygiene

Total Plate Count (TPC) is a measure of the total number of bacteria present

Amul Taaza packet milk reportedly showed coliform bacteria levels of 980 CFU per ml, which is significantly higher than the FSSAI safe limit of 10 CFU per ml.

Amul Gold packet milk was reported to contain 25 CFU per ml of coliform bacteria, exceeding the FSSAI permissible limit of 10 CFU per ml.

Amul Tetra Pack UHT milk was found to be within the prescribed FSSAI safety norms for both coliform bacteria and total plate count.

Mother Dairy cow milk in packets reportedly recorded a total plate count of 2,40,000 CFU per ml, which is far above the FSSAI safe limit of 30,000 CFU per ml.

Country Delight cow milk in packets was reported to have a total plate count of 60,000 CFU per ml, which is double the FSSAI permissible limit of 30,000 CFU per ml.

What are FSSAI Safety Guidelines For Milk?

FSSAI guidelines state that liquid milk should not exceed 10 CFU per ml for coliform bacteria.

What is Coliform Bacteria; Why It Matters

Coliform bacteria are commonly found in soil, water, vegetation and the intestines of humans and animals. Their presence in food does not always mean direct faecal contamination, but it strongly indicates that contamination may have occurred during handling, processing or storage.

According to the report of Dr. Prakriti Shah, Gastroenterologist at Paras Health, Gurugram that coliform bacteria typically originate from unclean surroundings, polluted water or poor hygiene practices. While not all coliforms are harmful, their detection in milk signals a breakdown in sanitation somewhere along the supply chain.

High total plate counts, meanwhile, suggest rapid bacterial multiplication.

How to Check Milk Purity at Home?

According to guidance shared by the TATA AIG team, consumers can perform basic home tests:

1. Water Test

Put one drop of milk on an inclined surface. Pure milk flows slowly and leaves a white trail. Water-adulterated milk flows quickly without leaving a trail.

2. Detergent Test

Mix 10-15 ml milk with equal water and shake. Thick foam indicates detergent; pure milk forms a thin layer.

3. Starch Test

Boil milk diluted with water, cool it, and add iodine drops. A blue colour suggests starch.

4. Synthetic Milk Test

Taste a few drops. A bitter aftertaste may indicate synthetic milk.

5. Urea Test

Add soybean powder and dip red litmus paper. If it turns blue, urea may be present.

6. Formalin Test

Add sulphuric acid to milk. A blue ring at the top indicates adulteration.

What Milk Consumers Should Do

Food safety experts advise consumers to:

Avoid buying puffed or damaged pouches

Report suspected quality issues to local food safety authorities

Boiling pasteurised pouch milk at home

Keeping milk refrigerated below 4°C

Avoiding prolonged exposure at room temperature

Properly processed UHT milk, however, generally does not require boiling before consumption unless opened.

The Trustified report highlights significant differences between types of packaged milk. Pasteurised pouch milk, which must be stored under refrigeration, appeared more vulnerable to contamination when cold-chain conditions were compromised during transport or storage.

In contrast, Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) milk which is heated above 135°C and sealed in sterile tetra packs - generally met safety standards. UHT milk can be safely stored at room temperature until opened, provided the packaging remains intact.

As of now, there has been no official response from the brands mentioned regarding the reported findings.

While independent investigations can raise awareness, only official laboratory confirmation by regulatory authorities can determine compliance status conclusively.

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