Page 16 - April 2025

How to Check for Adulteration

in Common Foods at Home

Food is meant to nourish us — not harm us. But unfortunately, food adulteration is a

real problem in many households today. Adulteration means adding unwanted or
harmful substances to food, often to make it look more appealing or weigh more so
it can be sold for a higher price. While some adulterants may seem harmless, others
can be dangerous to your health.

The good news? You don’t need a lab to protect your family. Many adulterants can
be detected using simple tests right in your own kitchen. Here’s how you can check
some of the most commonly used foods for purity.

What might be added? Water, detergent, starch, synthetic (fake) milk.
How to check:
Water: Drop some milk on a shiny surface (like a plate tilted slightly). If it runs
off quickly without leaving a white mark, water may have been added.

Detergent: Shake the milk in a closed bottle. If it forms a lot of froth or foam, it
may contain detergent.
Starch: Boil the milk, let it cool, and add a few drops of iodine (if available). A
blue color means starch is present.

Fake milk: Has a bitter or soapy taste and may turn yellowish when heated.

What might be added? Vanaspati (a processed fat made from vegetable oils that

imitates butter).
How to check:
Smell a spoonful of melted butter. Pure butter smells rich and creamy.
Vanaspati has little or no smell and may feel oily.

If you have vinegar or lemon juice: Mix a small bit of butter with a pinch of
sugar and a few drops of lemon juice. A red or pink color after a few minutes
may indicate vanaspati.

16- My Indigo Sun