11/11/2020
Six months ago 30,000 kilograms of fake cumin powder made from stone powder and broom bits was seized. A month ago 300 kilograms of khoya was seized crossing many State borders as it made its way from Delhi to Bhopal to Mumbai. The fake khoya is made from milk that contains melamine, a nitrogen-rich compound that increases the protein count falsely in dairy products. Other common adulterants in food items include high doses of sulphur dioxide in sugar, washing soda and chalk powder in jaggery, brick and saw dust in chilli powder, and soap stone powder in asafoetida.
With festival season on, experts offer tips to guard against fake and adulterated products that are seeing a surge