GLOBAL LANDSCAPE OF MILK POWDER QUALITY CONTROL: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF CONTEMPORARY SCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGIES, STANDARDS, AND ADVANCED DETECTION TECHNOLOGIES
Abstract
Milk powder is a critical global commodity for nutrition and food security. Due to complex international supply chains, it remains a primary target for intentional economic adulteration, highlighting a need for rapid, nondestructive quality control beyond traditional, destructive reference methods. This manuscript provides a global review of contemporary quality control, synthesizing analytical methodologies from the IDF, ISO, and Codex Alimentarius. We systematically categorize traditional analytical techniques alongside state of the art nondestructive methods, emphasizing the integration of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Near Infrared (NIR), and Raman spectroscopy with advanced chemometrics. Our synthesis reveals a paradigm shift toward real time, field deployable diagnostics essential for mitigating food fraud across the farm to table continuum. Furthermore, the paper addresses international regulatory disparities, advocating for a hybrid validation approach that reconciles classical standards with emerging digital screening systems. Peer Review History: Received 2 June 2026; Reviewed 6 July 2026; Accepted 9 August; Available online 15 September 2026 Academic Editor: Dr. Asia Selman Abdullah, Pharmacy institute, University of Basrah, Iraq, asia_abdullah65@yahoo.com Reviewers: Dr. Amany Mohamed Alboghdadly, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, amanyalboghdadly@gmail.com Prof. Ali Gamal Ahmed Al-kaf, Sana'a university, Yemen, alialkaf21@gmail.com