How to spot food fakes

Food safety analysts tell you how to catch the crooks in your kitchen. (Text: Sharon Fernandes; Source: FSSAI)

1. Chilli powder

Adulterant: Powdered brick, salt or talcum

How to spot: Mix a teaspoon of chilli powder in a glass of water. If it leaches colour into the water, it is adulterated with an earthy material like brick.

2. Khoya, paneer

Adulterant: Starch

How to spot: Boil with some water, cool and add a few drops of Iodine solution. Blue colour indicates the presence of starch.

3. Coconut oil

Adulterant: Other oils

How to spot: Place a small bottle of oil in the fridge. Coconut oil solidifies, leaving the adulterant as a separate layer.

4. Honey

Adulterant: Sugar solution

How to spot: A cotton wick dipped in pure honey when lit burns readily. Diluted honey won’t burn easily, and will crackle.

5. Coriander powder

Adulterant: Powdered bran and sawdust

How to spot: Sprinkle on water. Powdered bran and sawdust float on the surface.

6. Milk

Adulterant: Detergent, Synthetic milk

How to spot: Take 10 ml of the sample with an equal amount of water. Lather indicates the presence of detergent.

Synthetic milk has a bitter aftertaste, feels soapy when rubbed between the fingers and turns yellowish when heated.

7. Cumin seeds

Adulterant: Grass seeds coloured with charcoal dust

How to spot: Rub the seeds in your palms. If they turn black, adulteration is indicated.

8. Black pepper

Adulterant: Mineral oil

How to spot: This pepper shines, has a kerosene-like smell.