Khaberni - Dr. Nahla Abdel Wahab, head of the Bacteriology Department at Cairo University Hospital, revealed that unlicensed factories in Egypt resort to adding hydrogen peroxide to mask the bad taste and smell of spoiled milk.
The head of the Bacteriology Department warned of the dangers of using hydrogen peroxide, also known as "hydrogen water," in recycling spoiled milk, emphasizing that this practice poses a real threat to public health.
The Egyptian doctor explained in statements to a local channel that the use of this substance in dairy products causes intestinal damage and can lead to serious internal bleeding.
She added that some violators also use substances like chlorine or other bleaches to hide signs of spoilage, warning that the severity of the symptoms varies depending on the amount of milk consumed and the percentage of added chemicals.
The Egyptian doctor advised on the necessity of buying dairy and its products only from reliable and licensed sources, ensuring the expiration date and safety of the package, being aware of spoilage signs such as any change in smell or separation of components or color change after boiling, and avoiding buying any dairy products of unknown origin or sold in unclean places.
She confirmed that the regulatory campaigns carried out by the competent authorities on unlicensed factories represent an important step in addressing this dangerous phenomenon.
Egypt has seen repeated campaigns in recent years against the phenomenon of recycling spoiled milk, where some non-compliant traders collect expired or spoiled milk, then chemically treat it to resell it as a fresh product.
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a strong oxidizing agent used in some industries as a bleacher and disinfectant, but its use in food is completely prohibited because it causes damage to the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract and can lead to severe inflammation, ulcers, or gastrointestinal bleeding, especially in children and the elderly.
The Ministry of Health and the National Food Safety Authority supervise intensive inspection campaigns on dairy factories, and several violations have been detected recently, with factories being shut down and criminal records being written against the violators.
