English 
Spanish 
4 min read
0 comments
Public Prosecutor's Office exposes milk adulteration scheme in the 13th phase of Operation Leite Compensado, putting the health of millions of Brazilians at risk.
Milk with caustic soda and hydrogen peroxide? An operation by the Public Prosecutor's Office has once again surprised Brazil by revealing a worrying scheme involving adulterated milk. The operation, named Compensated Milk, entered its 13th phase last Wednesday (11) and targeted the Dielat factory, located in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, in Rio Grande do Sul. The discovery brought to light serious frauds that put public health at risk, with the addition of caustic soda and hydrogen peroxide in dairy products.
How does the milk fraud with caustic soda and hydrogen peroxide work?
The investigation by the Public Prosecutor's Office revealed that the Dielat factory was using caustic soda and hydrogen peroxide in different dairy products, such as UHT milk, powdered milk and dairy compounds. According to prosecutors, caustic soda is used to reduce the acidity of milk, while hydrogen peroxide is used to reprocess spoiled or expired products.
The products involved, which are already in Brazilian market and even in Venezuela, include brands Mega Lac, Mega Milk, Temptation e Cootall. In Venezuela, the affected product is Tigo. In addition, Dielat supplies food to schools and public bodies, which further increases the seriousness of the case.
- Japan's $20 billion floating airport is starting to sink! One of the world's most expensive projects is defying engineering and scaring off investors
- Ship Graveyard: The shocking Chittagong shipyard where giants of the SEAS are dismantled with human and environmental risks
- Maximum alert! After the collapse of the Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge, 40 federal bridges in critical condition could collapse in the coming years, according to an alarming report by the Public Prosecutor's Office
- Discover the history of orichalcum, the precious metal of the ancient world that shone in antiquity and still challenges archaeologists with its mysterious secrets!
The operation Compensated Milk and health risks
Operation Leite Compensado has been in place since 2013 and aims to combat fraud in milk production in Brazil. In this new phase, five people were arrested, including the chemical engineer Sergio Alberto Seewald, known as the “alchemist” or “milk wizard”. He is said to be responsible for developing a formula capable of masking adulterant substances, making them difficult to detect during routine inspections.
Others involved include co-owner Antonio Ricardo Colombo Sader, director Tales Bardo Laurindo and supervisor Gustavo Lauck. An employee was also arrested for trying to hide evidence of the crime.
Prosecutor Mauro Rockenbach, in an interview with g1, warned of health risks:
“These substances are used to reprocess expired products and recover deteriorated items, which poses serious health risks, including carcinogenic potential [capable of causing cancer].”
Adulterated brands and impact on school meals
The scandal gained even greater dimensions when it was discovered that Dielat products were supplied for school meals in at least seven cities in Rio Grande do Sul: Alvorada (2023), Porto Alegre (2023), Taquara (2022), Canela (2020), Gravataí (2020), Ivoti (2019) and Viamão (2019).
This information, released by the State Audit Court (TCE), shows the seriousness of the distribution of adulterated milk in public food programs.
Parents and local authorities are concerned about the health effects on children, as the allegedly contaminated products were consumed by thousands of students.
How to identify and avoid milk with caustic soda and hydrogen peroxide?
Although the Public Prosecutor's Office is still carrying out analyses to determine which batches were contaminated, the main recommendation is to avoid consuming the brands mentioned: Mega Lac, Mega Milk, Temptation and Cootall. Even without an official determination, prevention is the best measure at the moment. It is important to be aware of some suspicious characteristics in dairy products, such as:
- Unusual smell or taste;
- Appearance with different coloration;
- Irregular texture.
If there is any suspicion, the advice is to contact consumer protection agencies or local health authorities.
The role of the Public Prosecutor's Office and the next steps
The role of the Public Prosecutor's Office in cases like this is essential to ensure that food fraud is combated and punished. Operation Leite Compensado has been a milestone in combating the adulteration of dairy products, especially due to its direct impact on population health.
The analyses are still ongoing, but investigators point out that the new formula used by the criminals makes the detection process even more complex. More precise information about the contaminated batches and the additional measures to be taken is expected to be released in the coming days.
A concern that requires attention
The case of Dielat factory rekindles the alert about the dangers of adulterated milk and the importance of constant monitoring in the food sector. The addition of caustic soda and hydrogen peroxide to products not only undermines consumer confidence, but also puts public health at risk, with potentially serious effects, such as the development of cancer.
The Public Prosecutor's Office continues to work to hold those involved accountable and ensure that frauds of this type do not occur again. In the meantime, consumers should remain vigilant, avoid the adulterated brands mentioned and always seek information about the origin of the products they consume.
Keeping an eye on the situation is the best way to protect your health and combat harmful frauds like this one. Follow the updates on the operation and learn more about how to ensure the safety of the food that reaches your table!
