Methods for Detection of common adulterants in food

1. Milk and Milk Products

2. Oil and Fats
3. Sweetening Agents
4. Food grains and their products
5. Spices
6. Miscellaneous Products

Milk and Milk Products

S.No Food Adulterant Method for Detection
Article
1 Milk water The presence of water can be by putting a drop of milk on a polished slanting surface.
The drop of pure milk either or flows lowly leaving a white trail behind it,
whereas milk adulterated water will flow immediately without leaving a mark

2 Starch Add a few drops of tincture of Iodine or Iodine solution. Formation of blue colour indicates
the presence of starch.

3 Urea Take a teaspoon of milk in a test tube. Add ½ teaspoon of soybean or arhar powder.
Mix up the contents thoroughly by shaking the test tube. After 5 minutes, dip a red litmus
Paper in it. Remove the paper after ½ a minute. A change in colour from red to blue
Indicates the presence of urea in the milk.
4 Vanaspati Take 3 ml of milk in a test tube. Add 10 drops of hydrochloric acid. Mix up one teaspoonful
of sugar. After 5 minutes, examine the mixture. The red colouration indicates the presence
of vanaspati in the milk.

5 Formalin Take 10 ml of milk in a tests tube and add 5 ml of conc. sulphuric acid from the sides of the
Wall without shaking. If a violet or blue ring appears at the intersection of two layers then
it shows presence of formalin.

6 Detergent Shake 5-10 ml. of sample with an equal amount of water lather indicates the presence of detergent.

7 Milk Synthetic Synthetic milk has a bitter after taste, gives a soapy feeling on rubbing between the fingers and turns yellowish on heating.
milk

8 Synthetic milk-test for protein The milk can easily be tested by Urease strips (available in the Medical stores) because Synthetic
milk is devoid of protein.

9 Test for Glucose/Milk does not contain glucose /invert sugar, if test for glucose with urease strip found positive.
inverted sugar It means milk is adulterated.

10 Ghee, Coal Tar Add 5 ml of dil. H2SO4 or conc. HCL to one teaspoon full of melted sample in a test tube.
cottage Dyes Shake well. Pink colour (in case of H2SO4) or crimson colour (in case of HCl) indicates coal tar
cheese, dyes.
condensed If HCl does not give colour dilute it with water to get the colour.
milk, khoa,
milk
powder etc,
11 Sweet Curd Vanaspati Take1 teaspoon full of curd in a test tube. Add 10 drops of hydrochloric acid. Mix up the contents shaking the test tube
gently. After 5 minutes, examine the mixture. The red colouration indicates the presence of vanaspati in the curd.

12 Rabri Blotting Take a teaspoon of rabri in a test tube. Add 3 ml of hydrochloric acid and 3 ml of distilled water.
paper Stir the content with a glass rod. Remove the rod and examine. Presence of fine fibres to the glass
rod will indicate the presence of blotting paper in rabri.

13 Khoa and Starch Boil a small quantity of sample with some water, cool and add a few drops of Iodine solution. Formation of blue colour
its products indicates the presence of starch.

14 Chhana or Starch Boil a small quantity of sample with some water, cool and add a few drops of Iodine solution. Formation of blue colour
Paneer indicates the presence of starch.

Oil and Fats

S. NoFood ArticleAdulterant Method for Detection
1 Ghee Vanaspathy or Margarine Take about one tea spoon full of melted sample
of Ghee with equal quantity of concentrated Hydrochloric acid in a stoppered test tube and
add to it a pinch of sugar. Shake for one minute
and let it for five minutes. Appearance of crimson colour in lower (acid) of Vanaspati or
Margarine.

2 Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes and The presence of mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes in a sample of ghee can easily be detected
other starches. by
adding a few drops of Iodine, which is brownish
in colour
turns to blue if mashed potatoes/sweet potatoes/
other starches are present.
3 Butter Vanaspati or Margarine Take about one teaspoon full of melted sample of butter with equal quantity of concentrated
Hydrochloric acid in a stoppered test tube and add to it a pinch of sugar. Shake for one minute
and let it for five minutes. Appearance of crimson colour in lower (acid) of Vanaspati or
Margarine.

4 Mashed Potatoes and other starches The presence of mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes in a sample of butter can easily detected by
adding a few drops of iodine (which is brownish in colour), turns to blue.

5 Edible oil Prohibited colour Take 5 ml of sample in a test tube and add 5 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid. Shake gently,
let it stand for 5 minutes. Colour will separate in the upper layer of the solution.

6 Coconut oil Any other oil Place a small bottle of oil in refrigerator. Coconut
oil solidifies leaving the adulterant as a Separate layer.

Sweetening Agents
S. No Food Article Adulterant Method for Detection
1 Sugar Chalk powder Dissolve 10 gm of sample in a glass of water, allow settling, Chalk will settle down at
the bottom.

2 Yellow colour (Non -permitted) Take 5 ml in a tests tube from the above solution and add a few drops of conc. HCl. A
pink colour in lower acid layers shows the presence of non- permitted colour.

3 Honey Sugar solution A cotton wick dipped in pure honey when lighted with a match stick burns and shows
the purity of honey. If adulterated, the presence of water will not allow the honey to
burn, If it does; it will produce a cracking sound.
Add a drop of honey to a glass of water, if the drop does not disperse in water it indicates
that the honey is pure. However, if the drop disperses in water it indicates presence of
added sugar.

4 Jaggery Washing soda Add a few drops of solution HCl. Effervesence shows presence of washing soda.

5 Jaggery Chalk powder Dissolve a little amount sample in water in a test tube,chalk powder settles down.-Or- Add
a few drops of conc HCl solution,effervescence indicates the presence of adulterant.
8 Metanil yellow colour Take ¼ of a teaspoon of the jaggery in a test tube. Add 3 ml of alcohol and shake the tube
vigorously to mix up the content. Pour 10 drops of hydrochloric acid in it. A pink
colouration indicates the presence of metanil yellow colours in jaggery.

9 Bura sugar Washing soda Add 1 ml of HCl to a little of bura sugar. Effervescence occurs if washing soda is present.
Dissolve 2 gm of sugar in water; dip a red litmus paper in the solution. If washing soda is
present, it will turn blue.

10 Sweetmeats, Ice-cream and Metanil yellow Extract colour with warm water from
beverages (a non - permitted Food articles. Add few drops of concentrated Hydro chloric acid. If magenta red colour
coal tar colour) develops the presence of metanil yellow is indicated.

11 Saccharin i. Taste a small quantity. Saccharin leaves a lingering sweetness on tongue for a
considerable time and leaves a bitter taste at the end.

Food grains and their products

S.NoFood Article Adulterant Method for Detection
1 Wheat, Dust, pebble, Stone, Straw,weed These may be examined visually to see foreign matter, damaged grains, discoloured grains, insect,
Rice, seeds,damaged grain,weevilled rodent contamination etc.
Maize, Jawar, grain, insects, hair and excreta of
Bajra, Chana, rodent
Barley etc.

2 Maida Resultant When dough is prepared from resultant or left out atta, more water has to
atta or be used. The normal taste of chapattis prepared out of wheat is somewhat sweetish whereas those
cheap flour prepared out of adulterated wheat
will taste insipid.

3 Maida/ Rice Boric Acid Take a small amount of sample in a test tube, add some water and shake.
Add a few drops of HCl. Dip a turmeric paper strip if it turns red, boric acid is present.

4 Wheat, bajra Ergot (a fungus containing (i) Purple black longer sized grains in Bajra show the presence of Ergots.
and other grains poisonous substance) (ii) Put some grains In a glass tumbler containing 20 per cent salt solution(20 gm common salt to 100
ml water)purple black longer size grain Ergot floats over the surface while sound grains settle down.

5 Wheat, bajra and Dhatura Dhatura seeds are flat with edges with blackish brown colour which can be separated out by close
other grain examination.
6 Wheat, bajra a Karnal Bunt The affected wheat kernel have a dull appearance, blackish in colour and rotten fish smell,
nd other grain

7 Sella Rice Metanil yellow(a non-permitted Rub a few grains in the palms of two hands. Yellow would get reduced or disappear. Add a few drops
(Parboiled Rice) coal tar colour) of dilute Hydrochloric acid to a few rice grains mixed with little water, presence of pink colour
indicates presence of Metanil yellow

8 Turmeric (coloring for golden Take a small amount of sample in a test tube, add some water and shake.
appearance) Dip Boric acid paper (filter paper dipped in Boric acid solution) If it turns pink turmeric is present
(ii) Take some rice and sprinkle on it a small amount of soaked lime for some time, grains will turn
red if turmeric is present.

10 Wheat flour Excess bran Sprinkle on water surface. Bran will float on the surface.

10 Wheat flour Chalk powder Shake sample with dil. HCl Effervescence indicates chalk

11 Dal whole Khesari Dal (i) Khesari dal has edged type appearance showing a slant on one side and square in appearance in
and spilt contrast to other daIs.
(ii) Add 50 ml of dilute Hydrochloric acid to the sample and keep on simmering water for about
15minutes.The pink color developed indicates the presence of Khesari dal.

12 Clay, stone, gravels, webs, Visual examination will detect these adulterants
insects, rodent hair and excreta
13 Metanil yellow (a non permitted Take 5 gms of the sample with 5ml. Of water in a test tube and add a few drops of concentrated
coaltar colour) Hydrochloric acid. A pink colour shows presence of Metanil yellow

14 Atta, Maida Suji Sand, soil, insects, webs, lumps. These can be identified by visual examination.
(Rawa) rodent hair and excrete

15 Iron filings By moving a magnet through the sample, iron filings can be separated.

16 Bajra Ergot infested Bajra. Soak bajra in water, swollen and black Ergot infested grains will turn light in weight and will float in
water

18 Sago Sand or Put a little quantity of sago in mouth, it will have a gritty feel, if adulterated. Burn the sago, if pure, it
talcum will swell and leave hardly any ash. Adulterated sago will leave behind appreciable quantity of ash.

19 Besan Metanil Yellow Take ½ teaspoon of the besan in a test tube. Pour 3 ml of alcohol in the test tube. Mix up the contents
thoroughly by shaking the test tube. Add 10 drops of hydrochloric acid it. A pink colouration indicates
presence of metanil yellow in the gram powder.

20 Khesari Flour Add 50 ml of dilute Hydrochloric acid to 10 gms of s ample and keep on simmering water for about 15
minutes. The pink colour, if developed, indicates, the presence of Khesari flour

Spices
S.No
Food Article Adulterant Method for Detection
1 Whole spices Dirt, dust, straw, insect, These can be examined visually
damaged seeds, other
seeds, rodent hair and
excrete

2 Black pepper Papaya seeds Papaya seeds can be separated out from pepper as they are shrunken, oval in shape and greenish brown or brownish
black in color.

3 Light black pepper Float the sample of black pepper in alcohol (rectified spirit). The black pepper berries sink while the papaya seeds
and light black pepper float.
(ii) Press the berries with the help of fingers light peppers will break easily while black berries of pepper will
not break.

4 Coated with mineral oil Black pepper coated with mineral oil gives Kerosene like smell.

5 Cloves Volatile oil extracted Exhausted cloves can be identified by its small size and shrunken appearance. The characteristic pungent of
(exhausted cloves) genuine cloves is less pronounced in exhausted cloves

6 Cloves Coated with mineral Cloves coated with mineral oil gives kerosene like smell
oil
7 Mustard seed Argemone seed Mustard seeds have a smooth surface The argemone seed have grainy and rough surface and are black and hence can
be separated out by close examination. When Mustard seed is pressed inside it is yellow while for Argemone seed it is
white

8 Powdered Added starch Add a few drops of tincture of Iodine or Iodine solution. Indication of blue colour shows the presence of starch.
spices
9 Powdered Common Salt Taste for addition of common salt.
spices
10 Turmeric Coloured saw dust Take a tea spoon full of turmeric powder in a test tube. Add a few drops of concentrated Hydrochloric acid. Instant
powder appearance of pink colour which disappears on dilution with water shows the presence of turmeric If the colour
persists, metanil yellow (an artificial colour) a not permitted coal tar colour is present.

11 Turmeric Lead chromate Appears to be bright in colour which leaves colour immediately in water.
whole
12 Chalk powder or yellow Take a small quantity of turmeric powder in a test tube containing small quantity of water. Add a few drops of
soap stone powder concentrated Hydrochloric acid, effervescence (give off bubbles) will indicate the presence of chalk or yellow soap
stone powder

13 Chillies powder
Brick powder, salt powder
Take a teaspoon full of chillies powder in a glass of water. Coloured water extract will show the presence of artificial
or talc,powder. colour. Any grittiness that may be felt on rubbing the sediment at the bottom of glass confirms the presence of brick
powder/sand, soapy and smooth touch of the white residue at the bottom indicates the presence of soap stone.
To a little powder of chilli add small amount of conc HCl and mix to the consistency of paste,dip the rear end of the
match stick into the paste and hold over the flame,brick red flame colour due to the presence of calcium slats in brick
powder.
14 Artificial colours Sprinkle the chilli powder on a glass of water. Artificial colorants descend as coloured streaks.

15 Water soluble coal tar Water soluble artificial color can be detected by sprinkling a small quantity of chillies or turmeric powder on the
colour surface of water contained in a glass tumbler.
The water soluble colour will immediately start descending in colour streaks

16 Asafoetida Soap stone or other Shake little portion of the sample with water and allow to settle.Soap stone or other earthy mailer will settle down at
(Hing) earthy material the bottom.

17 Starch Add tincture of iodine, appearance of blue colour shows the presence of starch.

18 Foreign resin Burn on a spoon, if the sample burns like camphor, it indicates the sample is pure.

19 Spices Powdered bran and saw Sprinkle on water surface. Powdered

dust bran and sawdust float on the surface.

20 Cinnamon Cassia bark Cinnamon barks are very thin and can be rolled. It can be rolled around a pencil or pen. It has a distinct smell.
Whereas cassia ark comprise of several layers in between the rough outer and inner most smooth layers. On
examination of the ark loosely, a clear distinction can be made.

21 Cumin seeds Grass seeds coloured Rub the cumin seeds on palms. If palms turn black adulteration is indicated.
 with charcoal dust
22 Green chilli Malachite green Take a cotton piece soaked in liquid paraffin and rub the outer green surface of a small part of green vegetable. If the
and cotton turns, green, we can say the vegetable is adulterated with malachite green.
green
vegetables

23 Green peas Artificially coloured Take a little amount of green peas in a 250 ml beaker add water to it and mix well. Let it stand for half an hour. Clear
separation of colour in water indicates adulteration.

24 Saffron Dried tendrils of Genuine saffron will not break easily like artificial.Artificial saffron is prepared by soaking maize cob in sugar and
maize cob colouring it with coal tar colour. The colour dissolves in water if artificially coloured. A bit of pure saffron when
allowed to dissolved in water will continue to give its saffron colour so long as it lasts

Miscellaneous Products
S.No Food Article Adulterant Method for Detection
1 Common salt White powdered Stir a spoonful of sample of salt in a glass of water. The presence of chalk will make solution white
and other insoluble impurities will settle down.
2 Iodized salt Common salt Cut a piece of potato, add salt and wait minute and add two drops of lemon juice. If iodized salt
blue colour will develop. In case of common salt, there will be no blue colour.

3 Tea leaves Exhausted tea Take a filter paper and spread a few tea leaves. Sprinkle with water to wet the filter paper. If coal tar
colour is present it would immediately stain the filter paper. Wash the filter paper under tap water and
observe the stains against light

Spread a little slaked lime on white porcelain tile or glass plate; sprinkle a little tea dust on the lime.
Red,orange or other shades of colour spreading on the lime will show the presence of coal tar colour.
In case of genuine tea, There will be only a slight greenish yellow colour due to chlorophyll, which
appear after some time.

4 Iron fillings By moving a magnet through the sample,iron filling can be separated.
5 Chicory Gently sprinkle the coffee powder sample on the surface of water in a glass.The coffee floats over the
water but chicory begins to sink down within a few seconds.The falling chicory powder particles
leave behind them a trail of colour, due to large amount of caramel

6 Supari Pan Colour Colour dissolves in water

Masala

7 Saccharin Saccharin gives excessive and lingering sweet taste and leaves bitter taste at the end.

8 Catachu powder Chalk Chalk gives effervescence (gives off bubbles) with concentrated Hydrochloric acid

9 Lemonade soda Mineral acid Pour 2 drops of the lemonade soda on a metanil yellow paper - strip. A violet colouration indicates
the presence of mineral acid in aerated water. The colour impression gets retained even after drying
the paper (you can prepare metanil yellow paper strips by soaking filter paper strips in 0.1 %
aqueous solution and then drying the paper – strips)

10 Sweet Potato Rhodamine B colour Take a cotton piece soaked in liquid paraffin, and rub the outer red surface of the sweet potato. If the
cotton absorb colour, it indicates the use of rhodamine B colours on the outer surface of the sweet
potato.
11 Pulses Lead Chromate Shake 5 gm. Of pulse with 5 ml. Of water and add a few drops of HCl. Pink colour indicates Lead
Chromate.

12 Iodized salt Common salt Cut a piece of potato, add salt and wait minute and add two drops of lemon juice. If iodized salt blue
colour will
develop. In case of common salt, there will be no blue colour.

13 Silver leaves Aluminium leaves (i)On ignition,genuine silver leaves burn away completely leaving
glistering white spherical ball of the same mass whereas aluminium
leaves are reduced to ashes of dark grey blackish colour.

(ii)Take silver leaves in test tube,add diluted Hydrochloric acid. Appearance of turbidity to white
precipitate indicates the presence of silver leaves. Aluminium leaves do not give any turbidity or
precipitate.

(iii) Take aluminium leaves in palm and rub between both the palms of
the hand, silver leaves completely disappear in the hand; however
presence of small ball in the palm indicates adulteration with aluminium leaves.

14 Vinegar Mineral Acid Test with the Metanil yellow indicator paper, in case, the colour changes from yellow to pink,mineral
acid is present