NEET PG High-Yield: Food Adulteration
Food adulteration is the practice of adding non-nutritive or harmful substances to food, reducing its quality or safety. It is a major public health concern monitored by agencies like the FSSAI.
Common Adulterants & Detection
| Food Item | Common Adulterant | Simple Test/Indicator |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | Water | Lactometer reading |
| Honey | Sugar/Jaggery | Fiehe’s test |
| Turmeric | Metanil yellow | Conc.  (turns pink) |
| Chili Powder | Brick powder | Water sedimentation test |
High-Yield NEET PG Pearls:
- Metanil Yellow: A non-permitted, carcinogenic coal-tar dye used for color.
- Argemone Oil: Adulterant in mustard oil, causing Epidemic Dropsy (Sanguinarine toxin).
- Prevention: Strict implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA).
- Consumer Awareness: Simple “kitchen tests” are effective for primary identification at the household level.