The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[DewDiligence]

Upscale dairies in India promise safer (and better-tasting) milk:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/04/business/international/dairy-industrys-reputation-in-india-opens-door-for-upscale-farms.html

On a 26-acre farm a couple hours’ drive inland from Mumbai, hundreds of black-and-white Holstein-Friesian cows laze around, dining on seasonal greens and listening to a custom playlist of rap, pop, classical and even devotional music. They are treated to a routine medical checkup before heading to a “rotary milking parlor,” where their udders are gently squeezed, until the cows step away, at will. Within a day, the milk—never touched by human hands—is bottled and whisked away to hotels, restaurants and homes in nearby cities.

The dairy, Pride of Cows, is one of the largest players in the growing business of farm-to-table milk, part of India’s new crop of organic, fair-trade and artisanal food products.

…This new marketing approach targets an increasingly health-conscious and brand-savvy Indian consumer, a growing niche within an already swelling middle class that has the means to afford costlier products.

…The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India found in 2012 that nearly 70 percent of the milk samples it tested nationwide did not meet food safety standards. A majority of samples were diluted with water or contained impurities like urea, liquid formaldehyde and detergent solution.

Yuck!