QUICK TESTS FOR SOME ADULTERANTS IN FOOD

 

P R E F A C E

M I L K  &  M I L K   P R O D U C T S

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K I T

P R E C A U T I O N S  T O  B E  T A K E N

FOODGRAINS AND THEIR PRODUCTS

Name of Food Article Adulterant

Simple Method for detection of Common Adulterants

 Remarks
i. Wheat, Rice,
Maize, jawar, Bajra, Chana, Barley etc.		 Dust, pebble, stone, straw, weed seeds, damaged grain, weevilled grain, insects, rodent hair and excreta. These may be examined visually to see foreign matter, damaged grains, discoloured grains, insect, rodent contamination etc. Damaged/discoloured grains should be as low as possible since they may be affected by fungal toxins, argemone seeds, Dhatura seeds etc. In moderately excessive amount can result in risk to health. Discard the damaged/ undsirable grains before use.
  Ergot (a fungus containing poisonous substance) a. Purple black longer sized grains in Bajra show the presence of Ergots. b. Put some grains in a glass tumbler containing 20 per cent salt solution. Ergot floats over the surface while sound grains settle down.  
  Dhatura Dhatura seeds are flat with edges with blackish brown colour which can be separted out by close examination.  
 

Kamel Bunt

    The affected wheat kernel have a dull appearance, blackish in colour and rotten fish smell.  
  Argemone seed Assemble mustard seed but show a protrusion on close examination. The surface ofAgemone seed is grainy and rough while that of mustard seed is smooth.When Mustard seed is pressed in side, it is yellow whereas Argemone seed is white.  
ii. Sella Rice (Parboiled Rice) Metanil yellow (a non-permitted coal tar colour) Rub a few grains in the palms of two hands. Yeellow would get reduced or disappear. Add a few drops of dilute Hydrochloric acid to a few rice grains mixed with little water, presence of pink colour indicate presenc of Metanil yellow.  
  Turmeric (colouring for golden appearance) Take a small amount of sample in a test tube, add some water and shake. Dip Boric acid paper (filter paper dipped in Boric Acid solution) If it turns pink, turmeric is present.

See Appendix-I
iii. Dal whole and spilt Khesari Dal








Clay, stone, gravels, webs, insects, rodent hair and excreta.		 i. Khesari dal has edged type appearance showing a slant on one side and square in appearance in contrast to other dals.

ii. Add 50ml of dilute Hydrochloric acid to the sample and keep on simmering water for about 15 minutes. The pink colour developed indicates the present of Khesari dal (1:6 HCl).

Visual examination will detect these adulterants.		 The Test is only for Khesari dal (Matenil yellow if present will give a similar colour immediately even without simmering).

Reject if the number of insects is large or if the odour is unpleasant and teste bitter or gritty.
  Metanil yellow (a non-permitted coaltar colour) Take 5 gms of the sample with 5ml. of water in a test tube and add a few drops of concentrated Hydrochloric acid. A pink colour shows presence of Metanil yellow.  
iv. Atta Maida, Suji (Rawa) Sand, soil, insects, webs, lumps, rodent hair and excreta.

Iron filings		 These can be identified by visual examination.





By moving a magnet through the sample, iron filings can be separated.		  
v. Besan Khesari Flour Add 50ml of dilute Hydrochloric acid to 10gms. of sample and keep on simmering water for about 15 minutes. The pink colour, if developed, indicates, the presence of Khesari flour. The test is only for Khesari dal (Metanil yellow, if present will give a similar colour even without simmering).