Abstract
Background: Milk is considered an attractive source of energy, proteins and calcium for infants and young children who have few alternative sources for these nutrients. Besides its beneficial effects on nutrition, milk is also ideally suited for growth of microorganisms. Many milk-borne epidemics of human diseases have been spread by contamination of milk by spoiled hands of dairy workers, unsanitary utensils, flies and polluted water supplies. Aims & Objective: To assess knowledge and practices towards milk borne diseases.

Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 250 households residing in urban area, Belgaum district, using predesigned and pretested questionnaire. Informally marketed raw milk samples were collected from 10% households (25 houses) for laboratory analysis using Brucella milk ring test (BMRT), methylene blue reduction test (MBRT) and Coli form tests (CT) at the teaching hospital.

Results: None of the participants knew that diseases can be transmitted by milk or could name the milk borne diseases. 1/3rd of the participants revealed that they consume raw milk, among them 1/3rd quoted health and convenience as reason for consumption of raw milk. Upper and lower SES classes, milk consumption practices (of washing hands, washing utensils, adulteration with water) were studied. Among 25 samples collected for laboratory analysis, 3 (12%) samples were found positive for Brucella milk ring test and 5 (20%) samples were positive for methylene blue reduction test as well as Coliform test. Mean specific gravity was 1.026 ± 0.004.

Conclusion: Awareness about milk borne diseases was nil among participants. Attitude towards milk consumption practices was not satisfactory. One way to approach this problem would be to develop educational outreach programs for dairy producers, as well as for the general public, that focus on issues related to the consumption of raw milk.

Key words: Raw Milk; Milk Borne Diseases; Coliform Test; Brucella Milk Ring Test