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Most of the turmeric available in the market is mixed with potassium dichromate, a highly dangerous chemical that can cause developmental issues in unborn children and even lead to miscarriage
Turmeric, coriander, mawa, and chilli are just a few examples of commonly adulterated food items in the market. (News18 Hindi)
Turmeric, coriander, mawa, and chilli are just a few examples of commonly adulterated food items in the market. Consuming these adulterated products can have harmful effects on the body.
Most of the turmeric available in the market is mixed with potassium dichromate, a highly dangerous chemical that can cause developmental issues in unborn children and even lead to miscarriage.
Similarly, horse dung is found in coriander powder, which can cause stomach issues, while castor seeds are mixed in round chillies. Dry fruits are often adulterated with starch, and ghee is mixed with unhealthy fats.
Despite the Food Safety and Standards Authority’s responsibility to prevent adulteration, such practices continue. In such cases, it is important to identify which items are pure and which are contaminated.
Here are a few simple and quick tricks to determine the authenticity of various food items:
Mawa (Khoya): During festivals, the demand for mawa increases, making it highly adulterated. To check, add a few drops of iodine tincture to mawa. If it turns black or purple, it contains starch.
Turmeric: Turmeric is one of the regularly used spices in Indian kitchens. It is often adulterated with yellow synthetic colour, which can cause cancer. To check whether it is adulterated or not, take a small amount of turmeric in a test tube and add five to six drops of spirit. If the colour intensifies, it is adulterated.
Red Chilli Powder: Brick powder or sawdust is sometimes mixed in red chilli powder. To test its purity, mix red chilli powder in water and shake it. If adulterated, the brick powder will settle at the bottom.
Coriander Powder: Coriander is also one of the most used spices in India. It is often mixed with soil and sawdust. To test its authenticity, add a pinch of coriander powder to water in a test tube. If sawdust is present, it will float on the surface.
Black Pepper: Often mixed with papaya seeds, which can cause liver problems. Drop whole black pepper into water; genuine pepper will sink, while papaya seeds will float.
Sugar: Sugar is an essential part of every kitchen. Sometimes mixed with chalk powder, leading to liver issues. Dissolve sugar in water—if chalk powder is present, it will settle at the bottom.
Tea Leaves: Tea is considered one of the most drunk items not only in India but throughout the world. However, used tea leaves are often dyed and resold. To check whether the leaves are adulterated, sprinkle tea leaves on a wet cloth. If the cloth gets stained, the tea has been adulterated.
Arhar Dal: Often mixed with khesari dal, which can cause stomach issues, liver problems, cancer, and ulcers. Soak the dal in water for 30 minutes. If the water turns green, it contains khesari dal.
Milk: Commonly adulterated with vegetable oil, urea, detergent, and formalin, leading to stomach pain, ulcers, and liver disease. To detect vegetable oil in milk, take milk in a test tube, add an equal amount of hydrochloric acid, and heat it. If the colour turns red, it is adulterated.
For the urea test, add urease enzyme to milk, stir well, then add five drops of potassium carbonate and cover with filter paper. If the filter paper turns red first and then green, urea is present.
Penalties For Food Adulteration
The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 prescribes strict penalties for food adulteration. If the adulteration is harmful to health, the punishment ranges from three years to life imprisonment, along with a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. If the adulteration does not directly harm health, such as adding water to milk, the offender can still face heavy fines.
