Let’s discuss about adulterated jaggery. All year long, jaggery is a common element in Indian homes. It gives conventional desserts a natural sweetness. Many people appreciate it for its health advantages in addition to its flavour. But as jaggery has grown in popularity, concerns have been raised about it being falsified or combined with other chemicals. Adulterated jaggery is often mixed with harmful substances like chalk powder, calcium carbonate, washing soda, and artificial colors to increase weight, improve brightness, or mask low quality. Pure jaggery is reddish-brown; vibrant yellow or overly bright, shiny, or excessively hard jaggery is likely fake. Common adulterants like chalk or soda can cause stomach issues, respiratory problems, and potential long-term health risks.
Common Adulterants and Their Effects:
- Chalk Powder/White Sand: Increases weight and creates a brighter, harder texture.
- Washing Soda/Baking Soda: Increases alkalinity, which can cause indigestion and mouth burns.
- Mineral Oil: Used for a smooth, shiny appearance, often found by rubbing on the palm to check for oily residue.
- Metanil Yellow: An artificial, poisonous color used to make the jaggery look fresher.
Sometimes jaggery is combined with baking soda or washing powder, which degrades its quality. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has released a simple at-home test to identify adulteration to assist anyone in doing so.
Test Method 1 :
You can put roughly 2 grams of jaggery in a test tube to see if it has been combined with washing powder. A small amount of hydrochloric acid is then added. Nothing occurs and no bubbles form if the jaggery is pure. However, bubbles will appear if it has been tampered with in any way. This occurs as a result of the baking soda and acid reacting to produce carbon dioxide gas, which is what causes the bubbles.
Test Method 2:
Similarly, FSSAI recommends crushing a tiny bit of jaggery and placing it in a test tube to determine whether it includes baking soda. If it contains baking soda, bubbles will appear when you add a few millilitres of hydrochloric acid. This simple technique enables consumers to determine whether their jaggery is authentic or has been contaminated with undesirable ingredients.
Because jaggery is costly and in great demand, particularly during specific seasons, it is frequently combined with such drugs. Some dishonest manufacturers add less expensive additives to improve the product’s appearance, smoothness, or weight.
Although baking soda is frequently used in home baking and cooking, consuming excessive amounts of it can be dangerous. In addition to causing stomach symptoms like bloating, gas, cramps, and nausea, it may increase blood pressure, which can be hazardous for those with heart problems.
You can notify the authorities if you come across jaggery that appears phoney or is of low quality. The FSSAI’s mobile app, website, or local food safety department can all be used to file complaints.
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