Milk supply chain under great pressure in extreme weather
Prolonged heat waves are about to occur, posing a serious challenge to the food industry in many countries. Among them, milk is considered one of the most sensitive items to temperature because it is very easily damaged if not properly preserved.
Dhruv Tomar - research expert and founder of M-Lense Research in India - said that high temperatures cause bacteria to grow faster in fresh milk if the product is not chilled immediately after collection or during transportation.
According to Mr. Tomar, just a short interruption in the cold storage chain can reduce product quality and increase the risk of infection. This is especially dangerous for children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.
This expert said that prolonged transportation routes, traffic congestion and power outages in the summer make it more difficult to maintain stable temperatures. These pressures can increase the risk of food spoilage before reaching consumers.
More worryingly, small retail outlets and traditional markets often lack modern temperature control systems. Many dairy products are still displayed in prolonged hot conditions, creating a favorable environment for bacteria to multiply.
Climate change increases the risk of food insecurity
Not only affecting the preservation stage, extreme heat also directly affects dairy farming activities. High temperatures cause livestock to lose appetite, dehydrate and reduce milk production.
According to Mr. Dhruv Tomar, severe weather is putting pressure on the entire food supply chain, from production, transportation to consumption. This forces the dairy industry to invest more heavily in cold storage systems, real-time temperature monitoring technology and quality control processes.
Food safety experts also recommend that consumers prioritize buying milk from reputable sources, carefully check packaging, expiration dates and storage conditions before use. After purchase, the product needs to be chilled immediately and should not be left in a high-temperature environment for too long.
In addition, people should absolutely not use milk with signs of discoloration, change of smell or blistered packaging..., because this may be a sign that the product has been contaminated.
In the context of climate change causing heat waves to appear more frequently, food safety is becoming a public health issue that needs special attention.
