Have you ever wondered what would happen when the spices that enhance the taste of food become the cause of your death? TOI report (ReferenceAccording to the ), during a raid in the country's capital Delhi in May, officials seized 1500 tons of fake spices. Many types of fake spices like turmeric, coriander, chili, garam masala powder were being prepared.
Eating fake and adulterated spices can cause diseases like allergies, liver and kidney damage, digestive problems, vomiting, body toxicity, respiratory problems, diarrhea and even cancer. In this article, we will know why spices are adulterated and how you can check fake spices.
Acid and rotten leaves were being mixed in the spices
You must have heard the news of some spices of many big spice brands of the country being banned in many countries. Cancer causing chemical 'ethylene oxide' was found in many spices of these brands. The fake spices seized in Delhi were made from rotten leaves, rice, wasted jowar, chilli peels, acid and inferior oil. These spices were being sold in Delhi-NCR at the price of real spices.
What things are mixed in spices
To earn more profit, either the original spices are adulterated, chemicals are added to the spices or fake spices are made from dirty things. Let's know what is mixed in which spice and what are its disadvantages:
- Turmeric- Lead chromate and metanil yellow are added to turmeric to enhance its colour. This can cause lead poisoning, kidney and liver problems.
- Metanil Yellow can cause cancer, stomach pain, vomiting.
- Red chilli powder- Artificial colours and brick powder are added to chilli powder to enhance its colour. This can cause stomach irritation and digestive problems, cancer, liver damage and allergies.
Cow dung mixed with coriander powder
- Coriander powder: Sawdust and cow dung powder are mixed in it. It increases weight and darkens the colour. It can cause stomach infections and other problems.
- Black pepper- Dried papaya seeds are added to it. This can cause stomach irritation and nutritional deficiency.
- Cumin- Black grass seeds are mixed in it to make it look like cumin. It can cause respiratory problems and stomach problems.
How to identify papaya seeds in black pepper?
Place some black pepper on a white paper and look at it through a magnifying glass. Pure black pepper seeds will appear brown in colour, have a wrinkled surface and taste good. Adulterated seeds will appear wrinkled, have a smooth surface and are oval in shape. Their colour is greenish-brown or blackish-brown.
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How to identify fake spices?
- Black pepper: Press a little black pepper with your finger, real pepper will not break, fake pepper will break.
- Saffron: Put saffron in hot water. The color of real saffron will fade slowly, while the color of fake saffron will fade immediately.
- Turmeric: Pour lemon juice on rice. There will be no change in real turmeric, fake turmeric will turn red.
- Red chilli powder: Add red chilli powder to a glass of water. If you see something like sand or soap in the water, then understand that the chilli is adulterated.
- Cumin: Put cumin seeds in a glass of water. Real cumin seeds will settle down, fake cumin seeds will float.
- Coriander Powder: Real coriander powder is greenish brown in colour and has a pleasant aroma. Fake coriander is dull in colour and has a weak aroma.
- Salt: Dissolve salt in water. If the water is clear then the salt is pure, if the water turns white then the salt is adulterated.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It cannot in any way be a substitute for any medicine or treatment. Always consult your doctor for more information.
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