How to find out food adulteration!

Food adulteration is a common problem existing around every corner of the world. This makes your everyday food items quite unhealthy and hazardous. Though it is difficult to eradicate it overnight but by following certain kitchen tricks you can stay safe from it.

So here are the kitchen tricks for exposing adulteration in your everyday ingredients: 

1. Turmeric, dals and pulses such as moong or channa
Adulterant - Metanil Yellow and Kesari Dal
Test:
You have to dissolve half a spoon full of besan or turmeric powder in 20 ml of lukewarm water. Now add a few drops of hydrochloric acid or any commonly available acid at home. If the water turns pink, violet or purple, it shows the presence of Metanil yellow.

Harmful effects
It's highly carcinogenic and consuming it over a continuous period of time can also cause stomach disorders.

2. Green chillies, green peas and other vegetables
Adulterant - Malachite Green 
Test:
Place a little quantity of it over a moistened white blotting paper. Colored impressions on the blotting paper indicate the presence of Malachite green.

Harmful effects
This colored dye is said to be carcinogenic for humans if consumed over a long period of time.

3. Mustard seeds and mustard oil
Adulterant - Argemone seeds 
Test:
On pressing r crushing the argemone seeds you can find a white inside and a rough outer surface whereas mustard seeds are smooth on the outside and are yellow on the inside.

Harmful effects
Eating these could cause epidemic dropsy and severe glaucoma. Better be careful while picking up any of these ingredients.