y Deliberate contamination of food material with low

quality, cheap and non-edible or toxic substances is called food adulteration.

y Adulteration brings a lot of easy money for the traders,

but it may spoil many lives.

y The addition of adulterant may be intentional or

unintentional.
y Intentional addition: Intentional adulteration is the act

of adding, removing substances to food or altering the existing natural properties of food knowingly.
y Unintentional addition: Pesticides, growth promoters,

components of packaging materials, solvents etc.

common type of food adulterations are:

y 1)Milk :- It is adulterated by the addition of water, starch,

skim milk powder and removal of cream.

y 2)Ghee :- It is adulterated with vanaspati and animal

fats .
y 3)Cereals :- Rice and wheat are mixed with stones to

increase the bulk.

y 4)Turmeric & chili powders: add colors to disguise

poor quality. y .

y 5)Honey :It is adulterated with sugar and jaggery.

y 6). vegetable & fruits: Farmer injects growth hormones to

get more produce in short time. y The vegetables are coated with wax, or they are dipped in chemical to make them look fresh . y Vegetables that are most targeted are green vegetables, like bitter-gourd ,lady-finger, spinach, peas etc

y What is more alarming is that ingredients used in

preparing sweets range from chemicals such as ammonia to even some adulterated oils. y consumption of these adulterants have harmful effects on the body, resulting in liver damage and other health problems.

y Food adulteration can lead to slow poisoning and various

kinds of diseases.
y Effects of adulterated food Consumption of adulterated food

can harm kidney, nervous system , liver and other health problems.

Food
y Honey

Household detection
y A cotton wick dipped in pure honey burns when

ignited with a match stick. If adulterated it will not burn or if it does it will produce a cracking sound.
y Put a drop of milk on polished vertical surface.

y Milk

The drop of pure milk either stops or flows slowly leaving a white trail behind it. Milk adulterated with water will flow immediately without leaving any trace.
y Visual detection.

y Cereals

y a)Buy standard goods like those with ISI,AGMARK

or FPO marks.
y b)Buy reliable brands from standard companies. y c)Before buying an article, note the

standardization mark, manufacturing and expiry date as well as the price.

y d)If you find a shopkeeper indulging in adulteration, refuse

the shop and report the matter to the concerned authorities.

y e)Do not buy loose foodstuffs .