Camel milk with a holographic camel silhouette, symbolizing purity testing.

Is Your Camel Milk the Real Deal? How to Spot Cow Milk Adulteration

Beau Callahan in Science & Nature August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Protecting Your Health and Wallet: A Guide to Ensuring the Purity of Camel Milk"

Camel milk has surged in popularity, celebrated for its unique nutritional profile and therapeutic properties. Unlike regular milk, camel milk is rich in protective components such as lysozyme, lactoferrin, and immunoglobulins, offering a natural remedy for various ailments. These benefits have fueled a growing demand, particularly among those seeking alternatives for lactose intolerance or managing conditions like diabetes and hepatitis.

However, with its premium price tag and limited availability, camel milk is vulnerable to adulteration, often with cheaper cow milk. This fraudulent practice not only compromises the nutritional value but also poses potential health risks to consumers who rely on the pure form for specific health benefits. For individuals with milk allergies or specific dietary needs, this can be particularly concerning.

Fortunately, scientists are developing innovative methods to combat this deception. One promising approach involves Fourier Transform Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-NIRS) coupled with advanced chemometric techniques. This method offers a rapid, accurate, and non-destructive way to detect and quantify cow milk adulteration in camel milk, ensuring consumers receive the genuine product they expect.

The Science Behind the Detection: FT-NIRS and Chemometrics

Camel milk with a holographic camel silhouette, symbolizing purity testing.

The core of this adulteration detection method lies in the application of FT-NIRS. This technique analyzes the interaction of near-infrared light with the milk sample, generating a spectral fingerprint that reflects its unique composition. Because cow and camel milk have different molecular structures, their spectral fingerprints differ significantly. By comparing these fingerprints, scientists can identify the presence of cow milk in camel milk.

However, the raw spectral data from FT-NIRS can be complex and difficult to interpret directly. That’s where chemometrics comes in. Chemometrics involves using statistical and mathematical methods to extract meaningful information from chemical data. In this case, chemometric techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLS) are employed to analyze the FT-NIRS spectra.

Here’s a simplified breakdown of how these techniques work:

PCA: This method reduces the complexity of the data by identifying the principal components that explain most of the variance in the spectra. It helps visualize the differences between pure and adulterated camel milk samples.
PLS-DA: This technique builds a predictive model to classify samples into distinct groups (pure or adulterated) based on their spectral characteristics.
PLS: This method develops a regression model to quantify the amount of cow milk in camel milk samples.

In a recent study, researchers successfully used FT-NIRS with chemometric methods to detect cow milk adulteration in camel milk samples. The PLS-DA model achieved a high degree of accuracy, with an R-square value of 0.97, indicating its ability to reliably distinguish between pure and adulterated samples. The PLS regression model also demonstrated strong performance, with an R-square value of 0.92, enabling accurate quantification of the level of adulteration.

Protecting Consumers and Preserving Authenticity

The development of FT-NIRS coupled with chemometric methods marks a significant step forward in ensuring the purity and authenticity of camel milk. This rapid, non-destructive technique offers a powerful tool for regulators and producers to combat adulteration, safeguarding consumer trust and protecting the integrity of the camel milk market. By implementing such advanced analytical methods, we can ensure that consumers receive the genuine, high-quality product they expect, unlocking the full potential of camel milk's health benefits.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.vibspec.2017.07.004, Alternate LINK

Title: Ft-Nirs Coupled With Chemometric Methods As A Rapid Alternative Tool For The Detection &Amp; Quantification Of Cow Milk Adulteration In Camel Milk Samples

Subject: Spectroscopy

Journal: Vibrational Spectroscopy

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Fazal Mabood, Farah Jabeen, Javid Hussain, Ahmed Al-Harrasi, Ahmad Hamaed, Saaida A.A. Al Mashaykhi, Zainb M.A. Al Rubaiey, Suryyia Manzoor, Ajmal Khan, Q.M. Imranul. Haq, S.A. Gilani, Alamgir Khan

Published: 2017-09-01

Everything You Need To Know

Why is camel milk so popular, and what are the potential risks associated with its adulteration?

Camel milk is highly valued due to its unique nutritional composition, including protective components like lysozyme, lactoferrin, and immunoglobulins. It's sought after as a natural remedy and a suitable alternative for those with lactose intolerance or conditions like diabetes and hepatitis. However, its high price and limited availability make it susceptible to being mixed with cheaper cow milk, a fraudulent practice that diminishes its nutritional value and poses health risks, especially for individuals with specific dietary needs or milk allergies.

What is FT-NIRS, and how does it differentiate between pure and adulterated camel milk?

FT-NIRS, or Fourier Transform Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, is a technique used to analyze the interaction of near-infrared light with a milk sample. It generates a spectral fingerprint that reflects the milk's unique composition. Because cow and camel milk have different molecular structures, their spectral fingerprints differ significantly, allowing scientists to identify the presence of cow milk in camel milk.

What is chemometrics, and what role do techniques like PCA, PLS-DA, and PLS play in detecting adulteration?

Chemometrics involves using statistical and mathematical methods to extract meaningful information from chemical data. Techniques like Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLS) are used to analyze the FT-NIRS spectra. PCA helps visualize differences between pure and adulterated samples, PLS-DA classifies samples into distinct groups, and PLS quantifies the amount of cow milk in camel milk samples.

Can you elaborate on how PCA, PLS-DA, and PLS specifically contribute to the detection of cow milk in camel milk?

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) reduces the complexity of spectral data by identifying the principal components that explain most of the variance. Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) builds a predictive model to classify samples as either pure or adulterated based on their spectral characteristics. Partial Least Squares Regression (PLS) develops a regression model to quantify the amount of cow milk present in camel milk samples. These methods provide a robust way to analyze complex data and detect adulteration.

What are the broader implications of using FT-NIRS coupled with chemometric methods for ensuring the authenticity of camel milk?

The combination of FT-NIRS and chemometric methods, particularly PCA, PLS-DA and PLS, offers a rapid, accurate, and non-destructive way to detect and quantify cow milk adulteration in camel milk. The high R-square values (0.97 for PLS-DA and 0.92 for PLS) demonstrate the reliability of these methods in distinguishing between pure and adulterated samples, ensuring consumers receive the genuine product. This protects consumers from health risks associated with adulterated products and maintains the integrity of the camel milk market.