In Imperial Russia, it was a common practice to add lime to milk to reduce acidity and preserve it, a form of adulteration that could cause health problems. This practice was part of a broader pattern of milk adulteration, which also involved adding water and other substances. The fraud was eventually exposed by chemists and public analysts.

The adulteration of milk with lime was a subject of concern for Russian writers and social reformers, who were often critical of the conditions of the poor. The theme of contaminated food appears in the works of authors like Fyodor Dostoevsky and Leo Tolstoy, who were interested in the moral and social consequences of poverty. This issue also contributed to the development of the public health movement in Russia.