8 Food adulterants and how to detect them.

Are you sure that the food you're eating is unadulterated? In the today's world, everything is marketing. In the intention of competing with one another, traders started to add adulterant to food products for their profit.

It may be beneficial for the traders. But could you ever thought what will happen when you consume those adulterated foods?

Milk, Milk products, cereals, pulses, coffee powder, tea powder, turmeric powder, spices, edible oils are the examples of adulterated foods.

Image source: pinterest

How to detect food adulteration?

1) Bananas

Adulterant:

Calcium carbide to ripen the fruit.

Trick to detect them :

Natural stem colour of the banana is yellow. But if the banana's stem appears green, it has been ripened with the help of CaC.

Health effects:

It has carcinogens which can harm liver and stomach.

2) Apples

Adulterant:

Wax coating

Trick to detect:

If the apple appear glossy and shiny, it must be coated with wax. You may notice a thin layer peeling off.

Health effects:

Affects digestive system and leads to ulcers and gastric problem.

3) Mangoes

Adulterant:

CaC to ripen the fruit.

How to detect:

Dark green patches are found on the surface in which they are kept.

Health effects:

Cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and neurological problems.

4) Green Vegetables

Adulterants:

Malchite green

Tricks to detect:

Take a vegetable and place it on wet blotting paper. If the vegetables were adulterated, the impression of colors can be seen.

Health effects:

Carcinogenic

5) Common salt:

Adulterants:

White chalk

Tricks to detect:

If you stir a small amount of salt in water and the solution turns white, then it must be adulterated with salt and other impurities settles down.

Health effects:

Leads to gastric problems.

6) CHILLI POWDER:

Adulterants:

Brick powder

Tricks to detect:

Add the chilli powder in water. You may notice that the brick powder settles down whereas pure chilli powder float.

Health effects:

Leads to loss of vision, respiratory and digestive problems.

7) TEA LEAVES

Adulterants:

Coal tar dye

Tricks to detect:

Just take a moistened blotting paper and spread the tea leaves. After few minutes you may notice color spots if this was adulterated.

8) ICE CREAM:

Adulterants:

Washing powder

Tricks to detect:

Take a spoon of ice cream and add few drops of lime juice. If froth or bubbles form, then that must be washing powder.

Health effects:

It may cause servere stomach and liver disorders.

By the next time you buy these products make sure to check whether they are adulterated or not.

"Eat healthy; Stay Healthy"