Food Grains and Its Products adulterant Test at home

Food is essential for sustenance of life. Adulteration of food deceive the consumer and can cause risk to their health. The purpose of this manual is to list out common methodologies available for food adulterants generally found in India.

The scope of this manual is meant for household, which can induce awareness among the consumer about food safety.

Test 1 : Detection of extraneous matter (dust, pebble, stone, straw, weed seeds, damaged grain, weeviled grain, insects, rodent hair and excreta) in food grains

Testing Method:

• Take small quantity of sample in a glass plate.
• Examine the impurities visually.
• Pure food grains will not have any such impurities.
• Impurities are observed visually in adulterated food grains.

Pure

Pure

Adulterated

Adulterated

Test 2 : Detection of dhatura in food grains

Testing Method:

• Take small quantity of food grains in a glass plate.
• Examine the impurities visually.
• Dhatura seeds which are flat with edges and blackish brown in colour can be separated out by close examination.
• Impurities are observed visually in adulterated food grains.

Dhatura seeds in food grains

Dhatura seeds in food grains

Dhatura seeds

Dhatura seeds

Test 3 : Detection of excess bran in wheat flour

Testing Method:

• Take a transparent glass of water.
• Sprinkle a spoon of wheat flour on the surface of water.
• Pure wheat flour will not show excess bran on water surface.
• Impurities are observed visually in adulterated food grains.

Pure wheat flour

Pure wheat flour

Excess bran in wheat flour

Excess bran in wheat flour

Test 4 : Detection of khesari dal in dal whole and split

Testing Method:

• Take small quantity of dal whole or split in a glass plate.
• Examine the impurities visually.
• Khesari dal which has edged type appearance showing a slant on one side and square in appearance can be separated out by close examination.
• Pure dal will not have any such impurities.

Pure dal

Pure dal

Khesari dal

Khesari dal

Test 5 : Detection of added colour in food grains

Testing Method:

• Take a transparent glass of water.
• Add 2 teaspoons of food grains and mix thoroughly.
• Pure food grains will not leave any colour.
• Adulterated food grains leaves colour immediately in water.

Pure

Pure

Adulterated

Adulterated

Test 6 : Detection of turmeric in sella rice

Testing Method:

• Take a tea spoon of rice in a glass plate.
• Sprinkle a small amount of soaked lime (commonly known as chuna which is used in pan) on the rice grains.
• Pure grains will not form red colour.
• Adulterated grains will form red colour.

Pure

Pure

Adulterated

Adulterated

Test 7 : Detection of rhodamine B in ragi

Testing Method:

• Take cotton ball soaked in water or vegetable oil. (conduct the test separately).
• Rub the outer surface of the ragi.
• If cotton absorbs colour, then it indicates the adulteration of rhodamine B for colouring the outer surface of ragi.

Pure

Pure

Adulterated

Adulterated

Test 8 : Detection of chakunda beans in pulses

Testing Method:

• Take small quantity of pulses in a transparent glass plate.
• Examine the impurities visually.
• Chakunda beans can be separated out by close examination.

Chakunda beans

Chakunda beans

Test 9 : Detection of sand soil, insects, webs, lumps, rodent hair and excreta in Atta, Maida, Suji (Rawa)

Testing Method:

These can be identified by visual examination.

Atta, Maida, Suji (Rawa)

Atta, Maida, Suji (Rawa)

Sand, Soil, insects, webs, lumps, rodent hair & excreta

Sand, Soil, insects, webs, lumps, rodent hair & excreta