Adulterated Kitchen Ingredients: Simple Ways To Check If Certain Food Items Are Impure

Before the advent of technology and machinery, people used to prepare food items all by themselves. Be it milking, grinding spices, or growing their own fruits and vegetables, everything was done with hands and in the most authentic way possible. While this was a time-consuming process, it helped in keeping foods clean and free from impurities. However, with changing times, the concept of mass production has led to an increment in food adulteration. There are several manufacturers, who mix harmful chemicals, colours, and many foul substances in the kitchen ingredients, whose consumption can have serious repercussions. To stay safe, try consuming more items in their natural form and start checking the store-bought ingredients, using these methods: 

Coriander Powder

Used in almost all the mouth-watering Indian curries, the coriander powder adds flavour to the broth. It also is a rich source of antioxidants and has several health benefits. To check its purity: 

• Take a glass of water, then add one teaspoon of coriander powder in it. 
• Stir the water using a spoon. The foul substance will start floating on the surface, whereas the pure spice will settle at the bottom. 

Turmeric Powder

Turmeric is a medicinal Indian spice that is being used for centuries in our country. There are many versions of tampered turmeric available in the market. Check its quality by following these steps:

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• You will need a transparent glass. 
• Take 1 tablespoon turmeric powder, add a few drops of water, along with concentrated hydrochloric acid. 
• Shake the glass well. If you see the mixture turning pink, it means it has metanil. 
• If the mixture releases small balls, it is proof of the presence of chalk powder.

Mustard Seeds

Used almost in all the scrumptious South Indian dishes, mustard seeds are known to add amazing tanginess to the food. Check its purity by: 

• Crush or press a few seeds one by one. 
• If the texture feels rough and it is white from the inside, it means it is not mustard but argemone seeds. 
• Mustard seeds have a smooth texture and are yellow on the inside.

Cumin Powder

To add lip-smacking flavour in most of the dishes, cumin plays a significant role. To test the authenticity of this spice: 

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• Take a glass of clean water and add one teaspoon of cumin powder in it. 
• Leave untouched for a minute or two. 
• If there are impure substances, they will float on the surface, while the pure spice will settle down. 

Desi Ghee 

We Indians love to cook our dishes in desi ghee, especially the traditional ones. Full of health benefits, nowadays it is hardly available in the pure form. Test it by: 

• Adding one teaspoon desi ghee in a transparent bottle. 
• Also, add a pinch of sugar, and then give it a nice shake. 
• Let the bottle stand for 3-5minutes. If it turns red at the bottom, then the sample contains vegetable oil and is not pure. 

Mustard Oil

Amazing for heart patients, the mustard oil is great to be consumed throughout the year, but especially in winters. Check for adulteration in it by:  

• Adding a few drops of nitric acid to one tablespoon of mustard oil in a glass bowl. 
• Mix and heat the mixture for 2 minutes. 
• If it turns red, it is proof of the presence of argemone oil.

Tea

Tea is must-have in almost all Indian households. Its popularity has promoted its mass production and hence, adulteration in it is common. Check its purity by: 

• Taking a moist blotting paper. Then sprinkle a teaspoon of tea powder on it. 
• If the blotting paper changes colour to yellow, orange, or red, it means the tea has added colour in it. 

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