Adulteration in food is normally present in its most crude form, prohibited substances are either added or partly or wholly

substituted. In India normally the contamination/adulteration in food is done either for financial gain or due to carelessness and lack in proper hygienic condition of processing, storing, transportation and marketing. This ultimately results that the consumer is either cheated or often become victim of diseases. Such types of adulteration are quite common in developing countries or backward countries. However, adequate precautions taken by the consumer at the time of purchase of such produce can make him alert to avoid procurement of such food. It is equally important for the consumer to know the common adulterants and their effect on health.

In certain cases brick powder is mixed with chilli powder, and consumers will be able to find the difference by mixing this powder in the water. The brick powder will settle at the bottom of the bowl. Honey is a major source of adulteration as sugar mixture is added. Whether the honey is adulterated or not can be found out by immersing a piece of cloth, and by burning the cloth people can find out if honey is adulterated or not. If the honey is adulterated it will make a crackling sound. Time and again we have seen that adulteration has taken a firm root in our society. Most of the silver foils that are used in wrapping chocolates are made out of aluminum.

In a bid to rid the national capital of food adulteration, Delhi government has decided to enact stringent laws to curb the illegal activity. The new law would provide for granting a maximum punishment of life imprisonment and a penalty up to Rs 10 lakh for those found guilty. Every utensil or container containing any food or ingredient of food intended for sale shall at all times be either provided with a tight fitting cover or kept closed or covered by a properly fitting lid or by a closed fitting cover or gauze, net or other material of a texture sufficiently fine to protect the food completely from dust, dirt and flies and other insects, reads the act. It also directs that the food items to be kept away from pollutants.
In a recent study conducted by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in 33 Indian states, the body was stunned to discover that milk was being adulterated with detergent, fat and urea! As many as 68.4% of milk samples overall were found to be polluted. Additionally, rechecking foodstuffs for adulteration must also be ensured and boiling milk must become a common habit. "About 49% boil milk more than thrice before consumption in India. Around 56% boil it for more than 5 minutes, and 73% don't stir while boiling,"

when they were preparing desi ghee with the help of chemicals and refined oil, Two persons were arrested from Baitalpur for being alleged involvement in selling adulterated diesel, police said. A team of district administration and police raided the diesel depot following a complaint and recovered 15,000 litres of diesel mixed with kerosene

Food adulteration is a crime and if proven the offence is punishable under the law provided under the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, 1955. In spite of legal checks, we still find the problem widespread, because it is easy to bribe officials and get away with punishable crime. The Government of India has also enacted an integrated food law called the Food Safety and Standards Act in August 2006 and a Food Safety Authority is being established to match global standards. Some common adulterants Milk : Cow/buffalo milk can be adulterated with cottonseed oil. Or urea and liquid detergent are used to create synthetic milk. Starch is also used commonly to contaminate milk. These adulterants can be detected in the lab. Vegetable oils are generally mixed with castor oil.

Tur dal : Metanil yellow, a non-permitted colour is a common adulterant in food items like laddu, tur dal and turmeric. Metanil is easily available and not expensive. It makes the dal shiny. Kesari dal is banned due to the presence of a toxin that causes paralysis of the lower limbs and stunted growth when consumed for prolonged periods. It is cheaper and used to adulterate tur dal and dal flour or besan. It is pointed and wedge shaped and can be identified only with very careful examination. Ghee : Ghee essence is used in vanaspati or cheaper oils and passed off as pure ghee especially in summers when the heat keeps it in a liquid state. This type of ghee will not solidify like normal ghee. It may also not have that grainy texture of pure ghee. Sugar : With chalk powder and white sand. Tea powder : With used tea leaves. Honey is generally adulterated with invert sugar or jaggery. Wheat flour : With excessive sand and dirt, even animal excreta. Chilli powder : Red brick powder, grit, sand, dirt, non-permitted colours and saw dust. Asafoetida : Soap stone and other earthy matter is used for adulteration. Cumin seeds : Grass seeds are camouflaged and coloured with charcoal dust Turmeric : Lead chromate is used to give turmeric its natural colour. It is very harmful. Coriander powder : With dung powder. Dried papaya seeds are mixed with black pepper seeds. When put in water dried papaya seeds will float on the surface.