New Delhi, April 12, 2023 (PPI-OT):Contrary to popular Hindu belief and the faith attached to cow urine, research carried out by India’s premier animal research body, Bareilly-based Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), has found that fresh cow urine was not suitable for human consumption and it may contain potentially harmful bacteria. The research has refuted the claims of some Hindu priests and Hindutva leaders that cow urine is useful to cure some diseases, including COVID-19. The study, led by Bhoj Raj Singh of the institute along with three Ph.D. students, has found that urine samples from healthy cows and bulls contained at least 14 types of harmful bacteria with the presence of Escherichia coli, which can cause stomach infections. The findings of the research have been published on the online research website, ResearchGate.

Singh, who heads the department of epidemiology at the institute, said, “We collected urine samples of three types of cows – Sahiwal, Tharparkar and Vindavani (cross breed) from local dairy farms – along with samples of buffaloes and humans. Our study, carried out between June and November 2022, concluded that a sizeable proportion of urine samples from apparently healthy individuals carry potentially pathogenic bacteria. “The urine of some individuals, irrespective of sex and breeder species, might be inhibitory to a select group of bacteria but the common belief, that cow urine is antibacterial, can’t be generalised. In no case can urine be recommended for human consumption,” Singh further said.

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