4 minutes ago
- copy link
Recently, the Food Safety Department of Rajasthan collected samples of food items from across the state and conducted lab tests. You will be surprised to know that in Jaipur alone, more than 30% of the food items were found failing on different parameters in the test lab. If we talk about the entire state, this figure is 27%.
30% of food items failing safety standards is a very alarming number as this figure is not more than 17% in the entire world. At the same time, the number of food samples failing in lab tests in the entire country is 22%. In terms of adulteration, Rajasthan is number one in the country and in that too Jaipur is number 1 in the state.
Between January 1 and August 30, 16,691 food samples were taken from across Rajasthan, out of which 27% were found to be seriously adulterated. Investigation revealed that stalks were mixed in red chilli powder. To make the chutney look fresh, chemical colors were used in it. Wheat bran was colored and mixed with coriander powder. The same oil was used several times for frying Kachori-Samosas. The Food Safety Department has also imposed penalties on the culprits, but these food items that have reached our kitchens can cause serious health problems.
This is not the first incident. Every year during festivals, we see a lot of news about adulterated food items on the pages of newspapers. Samples from small shopkeepers to many famous brands fail in lab tests.
so today needed news I will talk about how to identify adulterated food items? You will also learn that-
- What kind of health problems can occur by eating adulterated food?
- What to do if a shopkeeper adulterates food items?
Expert: Dr. Hari Prasad Yadav, Gastroenterologist, Medanta Hospital (Indore)
Question- What kind of adulteration is done in food items?
answer- During major festivals like Navratri and Diwali, the number of adulterated food items in the market increases manifold. Adulterants add low quality ingredients to food items so that they can earn maximum profits. In this era of adulteration, no food item is untouched from milk, ghee to cooking oil and spices.
Understand from the graphic below what kind of things can be adulterated in food items.
Question- What kind of health problems can occur by eating adulterated food items?
answer- In today’s era, adulteration in food items is a matter of concern for the world. Due to increase in demand for food items during festivals, adulterators become more active and instead of good quality food items, they use poor quality ingredients or harmful chemicals, which can cause many serious health problems if consumed. See the graphic below-
Question- How can adulterated food items be identified?
answer- Generally it is seen that milk, ghee, oil and sweets are adulterated the most. In the year 2020, a survey was conducted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to investigate different types of products and sweets made from milk. In this survey, 2081 samples from different parts of the country were examined. During testing, 40% samples did not meet the prescribed standards.
Let us understand through the points given below how we can identify adulteration in food items.
Identify adulterated milk like this
- To check the adulteration of urea in milk, take milk in a vessel and mix soybean powder in it.
- After this, dip a red litmus paper in a solution of milk and soybean powder for 5 minutes.
- If the color of litmus paper changes from red to blue then urea is mixed in your milk.
- To test the detergent, mix equal amounts of milk and water in a bottle.
- After this shake the bottle. If the solution becomes foamy or a thick foam forms, then detergent has been added to the milk.
- To check adulteration of water in milk, pour a few drops of milk on the surface of a plastic or any other plain piece.
- After this make it a little crooked. If the milk does not leave white marks then water has been adulterated.
How to check real coffee
- Fill a glass with water and add coffee powder into it. After this, mix coffee in water and leave it for 5 minutes.
- Pure coffee powder will dissolve completely in water, whereas if there is cowdung or any other adulteration in the coffee, it will settle at the bottom of the glass.
- Adulterators also add chicory powder (a type of seed that looks like coffee) to coffee. To detect adulteration of chicory powder, add one spoon of coffee in a glass of water and mix it well.
- Coffee powder tends to float on water, while chicory tends to sink.
How to detect artificial color in green vegetables
- Take a piece of cotton soaked in water.
- Rub it on a small portion of green vegetable.
- If the color of the cotton turns green, then the vegetable has been adulterated with malachite green, which is extremely harmful.
Taste real tea leaves like this
- Take a tissue paper and spread some tea leaves on it.
- After this, add a few drops of water on the tea leaves and wet them.
- After some time, remove the tea leaves from the tissue paper. Real tea leaves will not stain tissue paper, whereas adulterated tea leaves will leave yellow or orange stains.
Question- If a shopkeeper adulterates food items, where can one complain?
answer- If a shopkeeper sells adulterated sweets or other food items, then you can complain under the law of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India i.e. FSSAI. For this, one will have to go to FSSAI office with a sample of that product. After this, the sample will be sent to the lab by FSSAI and tested. If the food is found to be adulterated during testing, FSSAI will take legal action against the seller. ,
Read this news also…
Important news – Is your ghee adulterated? Know from experts how to check pure ghee.
After the laddu controversy of the famous Tirupati temple of Andhra Pradesh, people’s concerns regarding the purity of ghee have increased. Questions are arising in everyone’s mind regarding the purity of ghee that whether we too are consuming adulterated ghee. Therefore, we will tell you about the ways to identify pure ghee at home. Read the full news….. 2. Necessary news- Garlic with cement found in Maharashtra: Use of chemical to shine fruits and vegetables, identify it in these 4 ways.
News of adulteration in food items is not a new thing. Even before this, cases of mixing of synthetic colors in green vegetables and fruits have come to light. Therefore, in the news of need, know what things should be kept in mind before buying fruits and vegetables? How to check adulteration in green vegetables? Read the full news….
