Spice Powder Adulterated?
Mukesh Kumar
| 28-10-2024
· News team
Dear Lykkers! With the rise of food adulteration, it's become increasingly important to ensure that the spices we use are pure and safe.
Adulteration in spice powders like turmeric, chilli, cumin, and coriander can not only affect the taste of your food but also pose health risks. Here are some effective methods to check if spice powder is adulterated.
Turmeric Powder: Testing for Adulteration
Turmeric is often mixed with synthetic dyes or starch. Here's how to check if your turmeric powder is pure.
Water Test: Take a glass of water and drop a teaspoon of turmeric powder into it. If the powder settles at the bottom without leaving any yellow stains on the water, it's pure. If the water turns yellow, it may indicate the presence of artificial colour.
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Litmus Paper Test: Dip a litmus paper into a mixture of turmeric and water. If the paper turns red, the turmeric has been adulterated with metanil yellow, a harmful dye.
Chilli Powder: Checking for Artificial Color
Chilli powder is often adulterated with artificial colours or brick powder to enhance its appearance.
Water Test: Add a pinch of chilli powder to a glass of water. If the water changes colour immediately and the powder does not settle at the bottom, it indicates the presence of artificial colours.
Grain Test: Rub a small amount of chilli powder between your fingers. If it feels gritty or coarse, it may be adulterated with brick powder.
Testing Powdered Spices Adulteration with Sawdust or Powdered Bran | FSSAI
Video By Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
Cumin Powder: Detecting Additives
Cumin powder can be adulterated with sawdust or similar substances. Here's a simple method to test it.
Float Test: Sprinkle some cumin powder on the surface of the water. Pure cumin powder will either float or sink, but if it contains sawdust, the particles will float for a longer time than usual.
Smell Test: Pure cumin powder has a strong, distinct aroma. Adulterated cumin may have a faint smell or no smell at all, as it could be mixed with fillers.
Coriander Powder: Checking for Added Fillers
Coriander powder is sometimes mixed with sawdust or husk powder. Here's how to check it.
Water Test: Add a teaspoon of coriander powder to water. If it's adulterated, the fillers will float on the surface while the pure powder will settle at the bottom.
Touch Test: Pure coriander powder feels smooth when rubbed between fingers, whereas adulterated powder will feel gritty or coarse.
Black Pepper: Detecting Papaya Seeds
Black pepper is often adulterated with papaya seeds, which look very similar but lack the pungency of real peppercorns.
Visual Inspection: Examine the peppercorns closely. Papaya seeds are slightly shrunken and have a rough texture compared to the smoother surface of black pepper.
Float Test: Add black pepper to water. Papaya seeds will float, while pure black pepper will sink.
Clove Powder: Checking for Wooden Sticks
Clove powder is sometimes mixed with powdered wooden sticks to increase its weight.
Visual Inspection: Pure clove powder will have a consistent dark brown colour. Adulterated clove powder may have lighter patches, indicating the presence of wood powder.
Heat Test: Take a small amount of clove powder and heat it in a pan. If it's pure, it will release oil and emit a strong aroma. The adulterated powder will not have this reaction.
Cardamom Powder: Checking for Foreign Substances
Cardamom powder can be adulterated with starch or other substances to reduce its quality.
Water Test: Mix cardamom powder with water and let it sit for a few minutes. Pure cardamom will not form any lumps, while adulterated powder will form lumps due to the presence of starch.
Taste Test: Taste a small amount of cardamom powder. Pure cardamom will have a distinct, sweet-spicy flavour. The adulterated powder may taste bland or different.
Ensuring the purity of your spices is crucial for both flavor and health. By using these simple tests at home, you can easily detect adulteration in spice powders and protect yourself from harmful substances. Always opt for trusted brands and buy whole spices whenever possible to minimize the risk of adulteration.