Stay aware, stay healthy.

Who wants to buy health problems with their hard earned money. But, we all are doing the same. Impurities in food items has been very common these days. Food contamination is taking a big toll on our health. Adulterants are being added freely in food items in the name of color, aroma and what not.

FDA has permitted a limited amount of chemical adulterants that can be added into edibles. But, those limits are being crossed carelessly by the food producing companies. Besides that every food item is not regulated by FDA such as loose pulses, rice, milk etc. Now, the question arises on the reliability of the edibles we introduce in our daily meals. Some chemicals can even cause deadly diseases like cancer.

How can we safeguard our families from these harmful chemicals? Do not panic, we are here to tell you how you can test the purity of your kitchen stuff.

Milk: Milk is considered as a whole meal and the most reliable source of nutrition. Milk is said to be pure and serene that’s why it is used extensively in Puja rituals. But, milk also is not free from added impurities.

Starch and urea are the common adulterants found in milk. Read on to find the testing method for identifying them.

Starch- If a blue color formation is seen after adding a few drops of tincture of iodine, it indicates the presence of starch in the milk.

Urea- Add half tsp of soybean flour to 5ml milk and shake for 4-6 minutes. Then dip a turmeric indicator paper in the solution. If the paper turns red , it shows presence of urea in the milk.

Turmeric Powder- Chalk powder and synthetic colors are most commonly found contamination in turmeric powder.

Synthetic color- Add 5 ml of water and a few drops of concentrated hydrochloric acid to one tsp of turmeric powder. You will notice formation of pink color, it will disappear soon but the color persists then the turmeric powder is contaminated with artificial color.

Chalk Powder- When 3 ml of water plus a few drops of concentrated hydrochloric acid to one gram of turmeric powder produces effervescent indicates chalk powder is added to turmeric powder.

Table Salt- Salt is another commodity that is really essential for cooking. Salt may contain powdered white stone.

White Stone Powder- Add one tsp salt in one glass of water and stir well. Salt is completely soluble in water. If it leaves white color behind that clearly states that it has presence of white stone powder

Ghee- Ghee normally contains impurities of starch.

Starch- Boil a small amount of Ghee with some water and allow to cool. Then add a few drops of iodine solution. Formation of the blue color shows presence of starch in ghee.

Stay aware, stay healthy.