Food Adulteration Detection Home Based Methods
Common spices:
Common spices like turmeric, chilly and curry powder are also adulterated by colours.
Spices (ground) are adulterated by red bran and saw dust. Sprinkle on water surface. Powdered bran and sawdust float on the surface.
Coriander powder is adulterated with dung powder. To find out, soak in water. Dung will float and can be easily detected by its foul smell.
Cumin seeds:
Grass seeds coloured with charcoal dust is used. Rub the cumin seeds on palms. If palms turn black adulteration in indicated.
Asafoetida (Heeng):
Items like soap stone and other earthy matter is used for adulteration. Shake a little quantity of powdered sample with water. Soap stone or other earthy matter will settle at the bottom.
Common spices like turmeric, chilly and curry powder are also adulterated by colours.
Spices (ground) are adulterated by red bran and saw dust. Sprinkle on water surface. Powdered bran and sawdust float on the surface.
Coriander powder is adulterated with dung powder. To find out, soak in water. Dung will float and can be easily detected by its foul smell.
Cumin seeds:
Grass seeds coloured with charcoal dust is used. Rub the cumin seeds on palms. If palms turn black adulteration in indicated.
Asafoetida (Heeng):
Items like soap stone and other earthy matter is used for adulteration. Shake a little quantity of powdered sample with water. Soap stone or other earthy matter will settle at the bottom.
TUMERIC
Adulterant
Metanil Yellow and Kesari Dal (Added to enhance the yellow color of a food substance)
Test
Dissolve half a spoon full of turmeric powder in 20 ml of lukewarm water. Add a few drops of lemon juice or any commonly available acid at home. If the water turns pink, violet or purple, it shows the presence of Metanil yellow.
Harmful Effects
It's highly carcinogenic and if consumed over a continuous period of time it can also cause stomach disorders.
2. GREEN CHILIES, GREEN PEAS, OTHER GREEN VEGGIES
Adulterant
Malachite Green (To accentuate the bright, glowing green color of the vegetable)
Test
Take a small portion of the sample and place it over a moistened white blotting paper. Colored impressions on the blotting paper indicate the presence of Malachite green.
Harmful effects
It's a colored dye that has proven to be carcinogenic for humans if consumed over a long period of time.
3. MUSTARD SEEDS AND MUSTARD OIL
Adulterant
Argemone seeds (used to add bulk and weight)
Test
When pressed or crushed, argemone seeds are white inside and have a rough outer surface whereas mustard seeds are smooth on the outside and are yellow on the inside.
Harmful effects
The consumption of these could cause epidemic dropsy and severe glaucoma. Young children and senior citizens with poor immunity are more susceptible this.
4. EVAPORATED MILK, CONDENSED MILK AND SOME SOY MILKS
Adulterant
Starch (used to give it a thick, rich texture)
Test
Take a small sample of the product in a test tube, add 20 ml of water and bring to a boil. Cool to room temperature and add a drop or two of iodine solution. If the solution turns blue, it marks the presence of starch.
Harmful effects
Unhygienic, unprocessed water and starch can cause stomach disorders. Starch greatly reduces the nutritional value of the ingredient.
5. ICE CREAM
Adulterant
Washing powder (used to add a bright white sheen and lightness of flavor)
Test
Squeeze a few drops of lemon juice on the ice cream. If it starts to froth and bubble, it marks the presence of washing powder.
Harmful effects
It can cause severe stomach and liver disorders
6. BLACK PEPPER
Adulterant
Papaya seeds (used to add bulk)
Test
Float the sample in alcohol. Mature black pepper corns will sink where as papaya seeds will float to the surface.
Harmful effects
Papaya seeds can cause serious liver problems and stomach disorders.
7. INSTANT COFFEE
Adulterant
Tamarind seeds, chicory powder (used to add bulk and color)
Test
Gently sprinkle coffee on the surface of water in a glass. The coffee will float whereas chicory will start to sink within a few seconds. Also, the falling chicory powder will leave a trail of color behind due to the large amounts of caramel it contains.
Harmful effects
These can cause diarrhea, stomach disorders, giddiness and severe joint pains.
Adulterant
Metanil Yellow and Kesari Dal (Added to enhance the yellow color of a food substance)
Test
Dissolve half a spoon full of turmeric powder in 20 ml of lukewarm water. Add a few drops of lemon juice or any commonly available acid at home. If the water turns pink, violet or purple, it shows the presence of Metanil yellow.
Harmful Effects
It's highly carcinogenic and if consumed over a continuous period of time it can also cause stomach disorders.
2. GREEN CHILIES, GREEN PEAS, OTHER GREEN VEGGIES
Adulterant
Malachite Green (To accentuate the bright, glowing green color of the vegetable)
Test
Take a small portion of the sample and place it over a moistened white blotting paper. Colored impressions on the blotting paper indicate the presence of Malachite green.
Harmful effects
It's a colored dye that has proven to be carcinogenic for humans if consumed over a long period of time.
3. MUSTARD SEEDS AND MUSTARD OIL
Adulterant
Argemone seeds (used to add bulk and weight)
Test
When pressed or crushed, argemone seeds are white inside and have a rough outer surface whereas mustard seeds are smooth on the outside and are yellow on the inside.
Harmful effects
The consumption of these could cause epidemic dropsy and severe glaucoma. Young children and senior citizens with poor immunity are more susceptible this.
4. EVAPORATED MILK, CONDENSED MILK AND SOME SOY MILKS
Adulterant
Starch (used to give it a thick, rich texture)
Test
Take a small sample of the product in a test tube, add 20 ml of water and bring to a boil. Cool to room temperature and add a drop or two of iodine solution. If the solution turns blue, it marks the presence of starch.
Harmful effects
Unhygienic, unprocessed water and starch can cause stomach disorders. Starch greatly reduces the nutritional value of the ingredient.
5. ICE CREAM
Adulterant
Washing powder (used to add a bright white sheen and lightness of flavor)
Test
Squeeze a few drops of lemon juice on the ice cream. If it starts to froth and bubble, it marks the presence of washing powder.
Harmful effects
It can cause severe stomach and liver disorders
6. BLACK PEPPER
Adulterant
Papaya seeds (used to add bulk)
Test
Float the sample in alcohol. Mature black pepper corns will sink where as papaya seeds will float to the surface.
Harmful effects
Papaya seeds can cause serious liver problems and stomach disorders.
7. INSTANT COFFEE
Adulterant
Tamarind seeds, chicory powder (used to add bulk and color)
Test
Gently sprinkle coffee on the surface of water in a glass. The coffee will float whereas chicory will start to sink within a few seconds. Also, the falling chicory powder will leave a trail of color behind due to the large amounts of caramel it contains.
Harmful effects
These can cause diarrhea, stomach disorders, giddiness and severe joint pains.
No comments:
Post a Comment