Adulteration in Spices- Check spices adulterant at Home

ADULTERATION IN SPICE - CHAPTER - 3 #

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Common adulterants of Spices are dummy products, synthetic color, colored flours and saw dusts, Bricks and colored chalk powder.

3.1. Adulteration of Argemone seeds in Mustard black & Mustard Fine:

Detection Method:

•     Spread approx 10 gram of Mustard black or Fine mustard sample on a white paper.
•     Then separate out argemone seed as seen in picture from whole sample and verified with glass lens by care full observation as described in morphological characteristics of Argemone seed.
•     Morphological characteristic of  Argemone Maxicana -  Argemone seeds have roufh groves on upper surface and color is brown to blackish.

Health Effect of Argemone seeds:
The seeds resemble the seeds of Brassica nigra (mustard). As a result, mustard can
be adulterated by argemone seeds, rendering it poisonous. Argemone seeds contains toxic
chemicals, namely Sanguinarine and Dihydrosanguinarine. Consumption of adulterated
mustard seed (Brassica nigra) with argemone seed (Argemone mexicana) even for a short
duration leads to a clinical condition referred as.

- Epidemic dropsy.

- Oxidative stress and

- Death of red blood cells via met-hemoglobin formation by altering pyridine nucleotide(s) and glutathione redox potential. 

Reason to be Adulterated: 

Argemone seed is not deliberately added that should be come from agriculture land added but due to high labor charge and illiteracy that should not removed out by manufacture.

3.2. Detection of Lead Chromate as adulterant in Turmeric Whole:

About Lead Chromate: Lead(II) chromate is used in some pyrotechnic compositions, especially delay compositions, as an oxidizer. Up to the late 1800s it was used to impart a bright yellow color to some types of food materials.

Reason to be Adulterated: Lead Chromate is used for the Yellow brightness of Spices and other food materials.  Due to the artificial brightness the product looks like a good quality.

Detection Method: 

- Pour one spoon of turmeric powder in one  glass water.

- if yellow color observed within few second that means turmeric powder adulterated with Lead choromate (a Cole tar dye).

Health effect of Lead Chromate: 
- Carcinogen, 
- Developmental toxicant

- Reproductive toxicant. 

- Cardivascular or blood toxicant

- Immunotoxicant

- Kidney toxicant

- Neurotoxicant

- Respiratory toxicant

- Skin toxicant 

- Sense organ toxicant

3.2.1. Adulteration of Papaya seeds in Black pepper:

Reason to be Adulterated: 

Monetary benefit of manufacturer or supplier.

Test Method: 

•     Take about 10 grams of black pepper sample in one glass of alcohol.
•     If some seeds are floating on surface of water after 5 minutes that should be papaya seeds or light berries.
•     Have some peaces of floating berries within fingure and puss, If the berries easily breakdown its conforms the berries is papaya seeds or light berries.
•     Papaya seeds can be easily separated out from black pepper as they are shrunken, Oval in shape and greenish brown or brownish black in color.

Health effect: Not Known.

3.2.2. Adulteration of Mineral oil layering on Black Paper:

About Mineral oils:

A mineral oil is any of various colorless, odorless, light mixtures of higher alkanes from a non-vegetable (mineral) source, particularly a distillate of petroleum,- like White oil,  kerosene oil, Paraffin oil and other petroleum product.

Reason to be adulterated with Mineral oil:

During Non-Volatile content determination in Chemical laboratories, the black pepper gives Pseudo positive result due to adulteration with Mineral oil and looks like a good quality of black pepper.

Test Method: 

- There is a foul smell of Kerosene oil, If Black pepper is coated with Mineral oil.

Health effect of Mineral oil as adulterant: 
Carcinogenic

3.3. Identification of Pure Cinnamon Zeylanicum and Cassia bark as adulterant:

About Cassia bark: 
Cinnamomum cassia, called Chinese cassia or Chinese cinnamon, is an evergreen tree originating in southern China.The tree grows to 10–15 m tall, with greyish bark and hard, elongated leaves that are 10–15 cm long and have a decidedly reddish colour,when young.Chinese cassia's flavour is less delicate than that of Cinnamon Zeylanicum. Its bark is thicker, more difficult to crush, and has a rougher texture than that of Cinnamon Zeylanicum.

Reason to be adulterated: 
Monetary profit of seller.  

Test Method: 

-Cassia bark is Identify by their Physical characteristics as described below.

-Cinnamon Zeylanicum bark is Soft, easily breakable, thin and Cylindrical than Cassia bark

and easily rape toward a pen or pencil.

-Cinnamon Zeylanicum bark is light brown in color and the bark of cassia bark is dark red

color.

-Chinese cassia's flavour is less delicate than that of Cinnamon Zeylanicum.

Health effect of Cassia bark:

Liver Damage due to high percentage of Caumarin than C.Zeylanicum

3.4.1. Detection of Colored Saw dust as Adulterant in Turmeric Powder:

About colored Saw Dust: 

Saw dust is the residue of Woods, that generated after cutting or sharping of woods.

Reason to be adulterated: 

For Monetary Profit manufacture or seller, Mixed up Colored saw dust in Turmeric powder and other spices.

Test Method:

- Take a full spoon of Turmeric powder in a test tube.

- Then add 5 ml Concentrated Hydrochloric acid.

- If a pink color observe then add 5 ml water.

- After addition of water, if pink color persist, its indicates that the presence of colored saw dust.

Mixing of colored saw dust in Powdered spice

Health Effect: 
Carcinogenic

3.4.2. Detection of chalk powder in Turmeric Powder and their Health Effect:

About Chalk Powder: Chalk powder is a silica based material.

Reason to be adulterated: Monetary benefit of Seller. 

Test Method:

•     Pour a full spoon of turmeric powder in a glass of water.
•     If there is any effervescence observed that means turmeric powder is adulterated with chalk powder.

Adulteration of Chalk powder in Powder spices

Health Effect: 
Stomach Disorder. 

3.5. Detection of Pure Asafoetida:

About Foreign Resin:

Reason to be adulterated: 
Due to Monetary profit, sellers are added some foreign resin, gum Arabic, flours, Soap stone
or starch. 

Test Method:

•      Take some peaces of Asafoetida and burn it.
•      If Asafoetida burned as champhur, its indicated the Asafoetida is 100% Pure, If Not that may be adulterated or compound Asafoetida.

Foreign resin in Asafoetida 

Health Effect: 
Toxic

3.6. Added starch detection in Powdered Spices and their Health Effect:

About Starch: 

Starch or amylum is a carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units joined
by glycosidic bonds. This polysaccharide is produced by most green plants as an energy
store. It is the most common carbohydrate in human diets and is contained in large amounts
in such staple foods as potatoes, wheat, maize (corn), rice, and cassava.

Reason to be Adulterated: 
More profit, less investment.

Added Starch Test 

Test Method: 

Add some drops of Iodine solution on Powder Spices.

If Blue color observed that mean there is presence of Added Starch. 

Health Effect: 

Obesity 

3.7.1. Evaluation of Mineral oil coated and Exhausted clove in Clove and their Health Effect:

About Mineral oil: 

Mineral oils are extracted from earth as crude oils and we use crude oils as fuel, not for diet.

Reason to be adulterated: 
To give the attractive and Pseudo quality appearance.

Test Method: 

Clove

•       If the product is adulterated with Mineral oils that's should gives a smell of Kerosene oil.
•       The shape of exhausted clove is small and shrieked and gives less fragrance. 

Health Effect: 
Carcinogenic