Introduction

Food is one of the basic necessity for sustenance of life. Pure, fresh and healthy diet is most essential for
the health of the people. It is wonder to say that community health is national wealth. But nowadays
people mix some harmful substance or adulterants in the food in order to increase its quantity. The
addition of adulterant may be intentional or accidental. But generally the adulterant addition is
intentional. The major reason for the intentional addition of these adulterants is for increasing the profit
margin on the expense of the health of the public or consumer. These days rarely any food item is
spared from the malicious practice of food adulteration. Almost every food-item from milk to fruits,
from vegetables to grains is added with adulterants. Some adulterants enter via agricultural steps, as
they are not cleaned well. Other adulterants that are intentionally added are invisible or they are made
invisible by astutely camouflaging with the color or texture. They are generally harmful for the health
and most of them lead to serious health problems like cancer. Adulterant reduces the quality of the food
and this weakens the health of the one who consumes them, thereby increasing the cost for healthcare.
Regular intake of an adulterated food can lead to many health problems. From curable to incurable
disorders and diseases can ruin ones lifestyle and life as well.














Adulteration























Some of the Food Adulterants

Common adulterants are harmful substances like the use Argemone oil mixed in mustard oil. Other
leaves and saw dusts are adulterant when they are mixed with the original tealeaves. Many toxic
chemicals are also used to color sweets. Methanol is an adulterant for alcohol. In the name of original
ghee, it is adulterated with vanaspati. Honey is adulterated with other sugar. Pulses are adulterated by
coloring them so they may look fresh. Similar toxic coloring approaches are used for vegetables and
fruits to look as fresh as they can, in order to increase their sale. One of basic food, milk is commonly
adulterated with water. The common use of toxic coloring agents as an adulterant for fruits, vegetables,
sweets are very dangerous when it comes to health of a person. It can lead to serious health issues like
cancer, cardiac problems, insomnia and paralysis and other neurological problems or death as well.
When it comes to honey adulteration it seems safer than the adulteration with the toxic chemicals. As
this will only have an economic impact without any health issues. Even milk can be completely
adulterated without any sign for milk in it, by making it artificially with chemicals.















Detection
Tea Powder
Place a strong magnet on a paper and add tea powder on it. If some of them attracts the magnet then
we are sure that there are iron fillings in the tea powder.
Rice
Take some water in a beaker and rice in it and if the rice goes to the bottom fastly then we can assure
that marble pieces are present in it.
Ghee
Add a teaspoon full of ghee in a test-tube and add hydrochloric acid and pinch of sugar in it. Stir it well
and if crimson red colour appears then we say that vanaspathi is present in ghee.
Milk
Add a few drops of milk on a slanting glass plate, if white trail is left behind then it is pure milk and if not
then water is mixed in it.
Black pepper seeds
Add some of the Black pepper seeds to glass water, if pepper seeds float then papaya seeds are mixed in
it.
Arahar Dal
Observe the arahar dal that they are pointed and wedge shaped or not, if they are then the kesari dal is
mixed in it.








Effects of Adulteration on Humans
Symptoms like headache, gastro-intestinal disorders, muscular pain, drowsiness etc., appear, if
adulterated food substances are used regularly.
The argemone oil used to adulterate ghee and butter is highly toxic. It causes a disease known
as dropsy. Watery fluid collecting in some parts of the body is the main symptom. It affects the
normal functioning of the body. It may also paralyse the limbs.
Metanil yellow used to brighten the colour of pulses, turmeric powder and sweet meats, is a
coal-tar dye. It may cause cancer.
Washing soda often added to powdered sugar and other food items, may cause intestinal
disorders.
Food items prepared under unhygienic conditions and state foods cause food poisoning.



















Reasons of Food Adulteration
Sellers want profits
Increase of food production
To preserve food for economic activities
To earn money in less time
To make food look more fresh and natural
Lack of effective coordination
Lack of proper food laws
Lack of government initiative
Politicians are not raising their voice
Common people are not conscious enough

Recommendations
National food safety policy
National food safety council
Curbing corruption
Strict enforcement of the existing laws
Food safety and awareness building campaign

Actions suggested
Strict enforcement of food laws
Using of advance technology
Reducing use of chemical pesticides
Political parties should raise their voice
Proper movement by CAB
Proper Public awareness