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A balanced diet must include green vegetables since they are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and other key components. However, the use of adulterants as ingredients causes great danger to human health. The use of dangerous chemicals, such as malachite green, which is frequently used to improve the colour of vegetables, can lead to adulteration.
Serious health problems, such as cancer and other toxicities, can result from these artificial colours. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has created easy-to-do at-home tests that consumers may use to identify adulterated green vegetables to address this problem. Using easily accessible supplies like cotton and blotting paper, these easy yet efficient home testing techniques can help consumers choose healthier foods and shield their health from dangerous artificial colouring.
Test 1: Blotting Paper Method
Materials Needed:
- A small quantity of green vegetables
- Moistened white blotting paper
Using a small piece of moistened white blotting paper is the first technique that the FSSAI suggests. To begin, take a small amount of the green vegetable you want to evaluate, like coriander, peas or spinach. After placing these veggies on the blotting paper, watch for any changes. The blotting paper will remain the same colour if the vegetables are pure. However, after a short time, you will detect a green mark on the blotting paper if the veggies have been treated with malachite green or other artificial colours.
Test 2: Liquid Paraffin Method
Materials Needed:
- A cotton ball soaked in liquid paraffin
- Green vegetables for testing
Using a cotton ball soaked in liquid paraffin is another efficient way to identify adulteration. This test requires a small portion of the green vegetable to be rubbed or dabbed using cotton which has been dipped in paraffin. Check for colour changes after applying the cotton. The vegetable is considered to be pure if the cotton ball shows no change in colour.
Importance of Detecting Adulteration
Artificial colouring used to adulterate food presents serious health dangers to consumers. Unapproved colouring agents contain toxic elements, which cause a variety of diseases, from allergic reactions to severe gastrointestinal diseases. Consumers can save themselves and their families from consuming these toxic elements by performing these simple checks. Maintaining food safety standards at the household level can be facilitated by routinely testing vegetables, particularly those bought from unreliable sources.
Precaution
When buying green veggies, customers can take a few safety measures in addition to conducting these easy tests at home. Always purchase from reliable suppliers or markets that are well-known for their high-quality products. Vegetables should be examined for any strange looks or excessive shine that might point to chemical treatments. Additionally, washing vegetables well under running water before eating can aid in getting rid of dirt and surface residues. Certain veggies may also be less exposed to possible pollutants if they are peeled.
