Food Adulteration & its Detection: precautions & propositions

Adulteration in food is normally present in its most crude form; prohibited substances are either added or partly or wholly substituted. Contamination/adulteration in food is done either for financial gain or carelessness and lack of proper hygienic conditions in processing, storing, transportation, and marketing. This ultimately results in the consumer either being cheated or becoming a victim of serious diseases. Such types of adulteration are quite common in developing countries.

It is, thus, important for the consumer to know the common adulterants and their effect on health. We need simple screening tests for their detection. In the past few decades, adulteration of food has become one of the serious problems in the consumer market. Consumption of adulterated food causes serious diseases like cancer, diarrhea, asthma, ulcers, etc. The selection of wholesome and non-adulterated food is essential for daily life to make sure that such foods do not cause any health hazards.

Why adulterants are harmful

Adulteration of food causes several health problems in humans. Some of the

health hazards include stomach aches, body aches, anemia, paralysis, an increase

in the incidence of tumors, pathological lesions in vital organs, and abnormalities of

skin and eyes.

Hence, food adulteration should be given great importance due to its

effect on the health significance of the public. People suffer from heart

disease, kidney failure, skin diseases, asthma, and other chronic diseases due to food adulteration. The people are helpless victims of this unchecked adulteration industry running in full swing.

Precautions

Here are a few things to keep in mind to avoid the consumption of adulterated products.

1. Take packed items only from well-known companies.

2. Buy items from reliable retail shops and recognized outlets.

3. Check for the ISI mark or AGMARK on food products.

4. Buy products in air-tight containers or packaging with trustworthy brands.

5. Avoid the urge to buy artificially colored sweets.

6. Do not buy sweets or snacks kept in open.

7. Avoid buying food from street-side vendors.

Scientific procedure for adulterant detection

Common adulterants present in chili powder, turmeric powder, and pepper are red-colored lead salts, yellow lead salts, and dried papaya seeds respectively. They are detected as follows:

• Adulteration of red lead salts in chili powder: To a sample of chili powder, add diluted HNO3. Filter the diluted solution and add 2 drops of Potassium Iodide solution to the filtrate. Yellow precipitate indicates the presence of lead salts in chili powder.

• Adulteration of yellow lead salts to turmeric powder: To a sample of turmeric powder add concentrated HCl. The appearance of magenta color shows the presence of yellow oxides of lead in turmeric powder.

• Adulteration of brick powder in red chili powder: Add a small amount of the given red chili powder to a beaker containing water. The brick powder settles at the bottom while pure chili powder floats over water.

• Adulteration of dried papaya seeds in pepper: Add a small amount sample of pepper to a beaker containing water and stir with a glass rod. Dried papaya seeds being lighter float over water while pure pepper settles at the bottom.

Propositions

It is not possible to ensure the authenticity of healthy food through visual examination only when the toxic contaminants are present at ppm level. However, a visual examination of the food before purchase ensures the absence of insects, visual fungi, foreign matter, etc. Therefore, care taken by the consumer at the time of purchase of food after thoroughly examining it can be of great help.

Secondly, label declaration on packed food is very important for knowing the ingredients and nutritional value. It also helps in checking the freshness of the food and the period of ‘best before use. The consumer should avoid taking food from an unhygienic place and food being prepared under unhygienic conditions. Such types of food may cause various diseases. Consumption of cut fruits being sold in unhygienic conditions should be avoided. It is always better to buy certified food products from reputed shops.

-Anon