Food is essential for sustenance of life. Adulteration of food deceive the consumer and can cause risk to their health. The purpose of this manual is to list out common methodologies available for food adulterants generally found in India.
The scope of this manual is meant for household, which can induce awareness among the consumer about food safety.
Test 1 : Detection of extraneous matter (dust, pebble, stone, straw, weed seeds, damaged grain, weeviled grain, insects, rodent hair and excreta) in food grains
Testing Method:
- Take small quantity of sample in a glass plate.
- Examine the impurities visually.
- Pure food grains will not have any such impurities.
- Impurities are observed visually in adulterated food grains.
Pure
 |
| Pure |
Adulterated
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| Adulterated |
Test 2 : Detection of dhatura in food grains
Testing Method:
- Take small quantity of food grains in a glass plate.
- Examine the impurities visually.
- Dhatura seeds which are flat with edges and blackish brown in colour can be separated out by close examination.
- Impurities are observed visually in adulterated food grains.
Dhatura seeds in food grains
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| Dhatura seeds in food grains |
Dhatura seeds
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| Dhatura seeds |
Test 3 : Detection of excess bran in wheat flour
Testing Method:
- Take a transparent glass of water.
- Sprinkle a spoon of wheat flour on the surface of water.
- Pure wheat flour will not show excess bran on water surface.
- Impurities are observed visually in adulterated food grains.
Pure wheat flour
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| Pure wheat flour |
Excess bran in wheat flour
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| Excess bran in wheat flour |
Test 4 : Detection of khesari dal in dal whole and split
Testing Method:
- Take small quantity of dal whole or split in a glass plate.
- Examine the impurities visually.
- Khesari dal which has edged type appearance showing a slant on one side and square in appearance can be separated out by close examination.
- Pure dal will not have any such impurities.
Pure dal
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| Pure dal |
Khesari dal
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| Khesari dal |
Test 5 : Detection of added colour in food grains
Testing Method:
- Take a transparent glass of water.
- Add 2 teaspoons of food grains and mix thoroughly.
- Pure food grains will not leave any colour.
- Adulterated food grains leaves colour immediately in water.
Pure
 |
| Pure |
Adulterated
 |
| Adulterated |
Test 6 : Detection of turmeric in sella rice
Testing Method:
- Take a tea spoon of rice in a glass plate.
- Sprinkle a small amount of soaked lime (commonly known as chuna which is used in pan) on the rice grains.
- Pure grains will not form red colour.
- Adulterated grains will form red colour.
Pure
 |
| Pure |
Adulterated
 |
| Adulterated |
Test 7 : Detection of rhodamine B in ragi
Testing Method:
- Take cotton ball soaked in water or vegetable oil. (conduct the test separately).
- Rub the outer surface of the ragi.
- If cotton absorbs colour, then it indicates the adulteration of rhodamine B for colouring the outer surface of ragi.
Pure
 |
| Pure |
Adulterated
 |
| Adulterated |
Test 8 : Detection of chakunda beans in pulses
Testing Method:
- Take small quantity of pulses in a transparent glass plate.
- Examine the impurities visually.
- Chakunda beans can be separated out by close examination.
Chakunda beans
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| Chakunda beans |
Test 9 : Detection of sand soil, insects, webs, lumps, rodent hair and excreta in Atta, Maida, Suji (Rawa)
Testing Method:
These can be identified by visual examination.
Atta, Maida, Suji (Rawa)
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| Atta, Maida, Suji (Rawa) |
Sand, Soil, insects, webs, lumps, rodent hair & excreta
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| Sand, Soil, insects, webs, lumps, rodent hair & excreta |
