New Delhi: A viral social media post claiming that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that 87 per cent of India’s population will develop cancer by 2035 if milk adulteration is not stopped immediately has been debunked as fake. The claim, widely shared along with what appears to be a screenshot of a Money Bhaskar news article, is entirely fabricated and has no basis in fact.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check unit has categorically dismissed the claim, clarifying that the WHO has never issued any such advisory. The viral post falsely attributes alarming cancer projections to the global health body in an apparent attempt to spread panic and misinformation.
🚨 फर्ज़ी खबरों से सावधान!
⚠️ सोशल मीडिया पर एक एडिटेड आर्टिकल साझा कर यह दावा किया जा रहा है कि विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन (WHO) ने चेतावनी दी है कि यदि दूध एवं दुग्ध उत्पादों में मिलावट पर तत्काल रोक नहीं लगाई गई, तो वर्ष 2035 तक भारत की 87% आबादी कैंसर से पीड़ित हो जाएगी।… pic.twitter.com/D1gCjAQBne
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) August 3, 2026
According to PIB, the image being circulated is an edited and fabricated screenshot purportedly showing a Money Bhaskar article dated September 19, 2035 a date that itself exposes the falsity of the claim. The fake article alleges that India produces only 14 crore litres of milk while consuming 64 crore litres, and claims that 68.7 per cent of milk and dairy products sold in the country are adulterated, leading to an impending cancer crisis. None of these claims have been verified or endorsed by the WHO.
PIB Fact Check stated:
- The WHO has not issued any warning claiming that 87 per cent of Indians will develop cancer by 2035 due to milk adulteration.
- The viral article is fake and manipulated, designed to mislead the public.
- The cancer projection attributed to the WHO is completely false.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also issued an official clarification, categorically denying the viral claim. In its statement, the global health body said:
“Contrary to reports in a section of the media, WHO would like to state that it has not issued any advisory to the Government of India on the issue of adulteration of milk/milk products.”
The misinformation also misrepresents India’s dairy sector. Contrary to the viral claim, India remains the world’s largest milk producer, with milk production expected to exceed 220 million tonnes in 2026, closely matching domestic demand. The figures of 14 crore litres of production and 64 crore litres of consumption circulating online are entirely inaccurate.
The fabricated post also attempts to lend credibility to its claims by citing alleged remarks from an Animal Welfare Board member regarding widespread adulteration. However, these statements do not support the sensational conclusion being circulated, nor do they establish any WHO warning or cancer projection.
