Detection of Chemical Adulterants in Commercially Packaged Milk: An Integrated Approach Using Conventional Physicochemical Analysis and Untargeted GC-MS Screening

Milk is among the most widely consumed food commodities and remains highly susceptible to adulteration for economic gain, necessitating continuous quality surveillance. This study evaluated the safety and authenticity of commercially packaged milk using conventional physicochemical analyses in conjunction with untargeted gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Ten milk samples procured from local retail outlets were assessed for pH, ash content, and moisture, and screened for common adulterants including starch, detergent, neutralizers, hydrogen peroxide, formalin, and sodium chloride. Untargeted GC-MS analysis was additionally performed to detect chemical constituents without prior selection of specific target analytes. Conventional qualitative testing revealed detergent contamination in two samples, while starch, formalin, hydrogen peroxide, neutralizers, and sodium chloride were not detected in any sample. Physicochemical parameters remained within acceptable reference ranges across all samples. However, untargeted GC-MS analysis identified several compounds of toxicological and food-safety significance, including 2-pyrrolidone, toluene, oleic acid, glycidyl palmitate, benzyl butyl phthalate, and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol. These findings demonstrate that untargeted GC-MS can detect chemical contaminants that evade conventional screening protocols, underscoring its value as a complementary analytical tool in food forensic investigations and milk quality assessment. The results emphasize the need to integrate advanced instrumental techniques with routine testing methods to strengthen consumer protection and food authenticity monitoring frameworks.