DIY quick guide to spot adulterated food items

Today, most of your food items are adulterated. Food safety analysts tell you how to catch the crooks in your kitchen.

Chilli powder

Adulterant: Powdered brick, salt or talcum

How to spot Mix a teaspoon of chilli powder in a glass of water. If it leaches colour into the water, it is adulterated with an earthy material like brick.

Khoya, paneer

Adulterant: Starch

Boil with some water, cool and add a few drops of Iodine solution. Blue colour indicates the presence of starch.

Coconut oil

Adulterant: Other oils

Place a small bottle of oil in the fridge. Coconut oil solidifies, leaving the adulterant as a separate layer.

Milk

Adulterant: Detergent

Take 10 ml of the sample with an equal amount of water. Lather indicates the presence of detergent.

Adulterant: Synthetic milk

Synthetic milk has a bitter aftertaste, feels soapy when rubbed between the fingers and turns yellowish when heated.

Honey

Adulterant: Sugar solution

A cotton wick dipped in pure honey when lit burns readily. Diluted honey won’t burn easily, and will crackle.

Coriander powder

Adulterant: Powdered bran and sawdust

Sprinkle on water. Powdered bran and sawdust float on the surface.

Cumin seeds

Adulterant: Grass seeds coloured with charcoal dust

Rub the seeds in your palms. If they turn black, adulteration is indicated.

Black pepper

Adulterant: Mineral oil

This pepper shines, has a kerosene-like sme.

Source: FSSAI