Detect Food Adulteration In Your Daily Food
What Is Food Adulteration?
-Food product fails
to meet federal or state standards
Tests
for Detecting Adulteration in Food
The adulterants present in different food items can
be easily identified by simple tests described below:
1.
Vanaspati
in Ghee or Butter:
Take small amount of desi ghee or
butter in test-tube. Heat the test-tube to melt the ghee. Add to an equal
amount of conc. HCl and a small amount of sugar. Shake the contents vigorously
for a minute and allow the tube to stand for about five minutes. Appearance of
crimson color in the lower acid layer shows that vanaspati ghee has been mixed
as an adulterant to desi ghee.
2.
Paraffin
wax and Hydrocarbons in Vanaspati Ghee:
Heat small amount of vanaspati ghee
with acetic anhydride. Droplets of oil floating on the surface of unused acetic
anhydride indicate the presence of wax or hydrocarbon.
3.
Argemone
oil in Edible oil:
To small amount of oil in a
test-tube, and few drops of conc. HNO3 and shake. Appearance of red color in
the acid layer indicates presence of argemone oil.
4.
Brick
powder in red chilli powder:
Add small amount of chili powder in
beaker containing water. Brick powder settles at the bottom while pure chili
powder floats over water.
5.
Metanil
Yellow in Dal:
Take about 5 g of dal in a
test-tube and add about 5 ml of water to it. Shake the contents well and add a
few drops of hydrochloric acid (HCl). Appearance of pink color indicates the
presence of metanil yellow.
6.
Lead
chromite in Turmeric Powder:
Take a small amount of sample
turmeric powder in a test-tube and add to it dil.HNO3. Filter and filterate
add a few drops of potassium iodide solution. Appearance of yellow precipitate
indicates the presence of lead salts as adulterant.
7.
Water
in Milk:
The presence of water in milk can
be tested by the following two tests:
(i)
Pure milk is thick but when it is
adulterated with water its viscosity decreases. It becomes thin and flows
easily. So to check the adulteration of milk with water, put a drop of milk
sample on the surface of a vertically held glass plate. If the drop of milk
either stays on the surface or moves down slowly leaving a white trail behind
it then it shows that the milk sample is pure and is not adulterated with
water. If on the other hand, the milk sample readily flows down then it shows
that the milk sample is adulterated with water. However, this test cannot be
applied to test the adulteration of skimmed milk (the milk from which cream has been removed) with water. For skimmed milk, a device called lactometer is used
to test the purity of milk.
(ii)
The relative density of pure milk is
1.026. On adding water to pure milk, the relative density of pure milk
decreases and this can be detected by using a lactometer. Lactometer is a
cylindrical device that measures the density of the fluid. It has markings of
relative density values on it. When the lactometer tube is put in the sample of
milk taken in a cylinder it starts floating in it. The relative density value
in level with the surface of milk gives the relative density of milk. For a
milk sample, which is adulterated with water the relative density, value comes
out to be less than 1.026.
8. Malachite Green in Green chillies, green peas and other vegetables (To accentuate the bright, glowing green colour of the vegetable)
Take a small portion of the sample and place it over a moistened white blotting paper. Coloured impressions on the blotting paper indicate the presence of Malachite green.
Harmful effects
It's a coloured dye that has proven to be carcinogenic for humans if consumed over a long period of time.
9. Argemone seeds (used to add bulk
and weight) in Mustard seeds and mustard oil
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.
10. Starch
(used to give it a thick, rich texture) in Paneer, khoya, condensed milk and milk
Take a small sample of the product in a test tube, add 20 ml of water and bring to 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.
11.
Washing
powder (used to add a bright white sheen and lightness of flavour in
Ice cream
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.
12. Papaya seeds (used to add bulk) in
Black pepper
Float the sample in alcohol. Mature
black pepper corns will sink whereas papaya seeds will float to the surface.
Harmful effects
Papaya seeds can cause serious liver problems and stomach disorders.
Papaya seeds can cause serious liver problems and stomach disorders.
13. Tamarind seeds, chicory powder
(used to add bulk and colour) in Coffee powder
Gently sprinkle coffee powder 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 colour behind due to the large amounts of caramel it contains.
Harmful effects
These can cause diarrhea, stomach disorders, giddiness and severe joint pains.
thanks got green pea with malachite green adulteration it was fresh mixed not dried well. Easily noticeable