Detection of adulteration in turmeric and chilli powder

1. Detection of Adulterants In
Turmeric and chilli powder
BY, Salman Khan, Sahil Dogra, Ishwarya & Ruchika

2. Turmeric
Turmeric (Curuma long L.) is a herbaceous root
commonly used for food seasoning as well as
for medicinal purposes. Turmeric has a long
history of medicinal use in Asian countries and
is used in root, oil, and powder forms. Its
medicinal value is mainly due to its content of
curcumin (diferuloyl methane) , with attributed
medical properties including anti-inflammatory
, anticarcinogenic , antioxidant , and wound-
healing effects. Curcumin has also been
reported to have promise for development of
therapies for Alzheimer’s disease.

3. Some COmmon Adulterants used in turmeric
Due to the increase in demand in consumers the producers are trying to Keep up
the production but by adulterated Turmeric powders using different methods and
these have several health effects.
● Aniline dye- Cancer
● Yellow Lead Salts- Cancer
● Metanil Yellow- Cancer and Toxicity
● Chalk- Indigestion
● Tapioca Starch- Stomach disorder

4. How to detect Adulterants in turmeric powder
● Chemical and Microscopic Turmeric Tests
● To detect the presence of aniline dyes:
To a sample of turmeric powder few drops of water is added. To it 5 ml of spirit is added. Immediate
disappearance of yellow colour indicates the presence of aniline dye.
● To detect the presence of chalk:
2 g of turmeric powder is taken in a test tube. Few drops of water and then few drops of Hydrochloric
acid is added to it. Effervescence will indicate the presence of chalk.
● To detect the presence of Metanil yellow:
A few drops of hydrochloric acid in a pinch of turmeric will also help you understand whether it has
Metanil yellow. Add some water and shake the mixture as vigorously as you can. If you see the
mixture to turn pink, then rest assured that it contains this unwanted additive.

5. Chalk Test
Metanil Yellow Test

6. ● To detect the presence of starch of maize, wheat and rice:
Microscopic view reveals that pure turmeric is yellow in colour and bigger in size.
● To detect Lead Chromate :
There is emerging attention for adulteration of turmeric with the vibrant yellow, toxic
and carcinogenic compound lead chromate. Lead chromate is successfully detected
form samples adulterated with 0.5% or higher using spectroscopic technique like
Raman Spectroscopy .

8. ● Visual, Physical and Smell Tests
● The colour test:
In loose powder, the one sure way to check its genuineness is to inspect its physical and
visual appearance. This can be tricky sometimes. But if you buy from known and trusted
sellers you are less likely to be cheated. The colour of good Lakadong turmeric is a
fluorescent deep orange to bright yellow. If the colour is somewhat lighter or dull yellow
in shade chances are it is of lower quality or purity.
● The palm test:
Put a pinch of turmeric powder on the palm of your left hand. With your right thumb rub
the powder for a few seconds. The good powder will stick to your palm, leaving a deep
bright orange tint on it. Now tilt your left palm sideways perpendicular to the ground.
Much of the powder will remain stuck on your palm. If more of it falls it may have been
mixed with other ingredients like chalk.

9. The colour test
The palm test

10. ● The smell test:
Good turmeric powder will have a distinct, but mild, earthy aroma and turmeric users
will immediately recognize a gingery and orangey scent in it. Bad turmeric will not emit
such an aroma. Rather it might have some indistinct smell that doesn’t quite give the
flavour of turmeric. This may be mixed with some adulterant like talc or corn flour or
with some very poor quality turmeric.
● Turmeric Water test (for foreign ingredients):
At home, you can take a level teaspoon of turmeric powder and add it to a glass tumbler
of lukewarm water, without stirring. Let it stand for about 15-20 minutes to settle down.
If the turmeric is genuine it will settle at the bottom and the water will be clear. But if
there are foreign ingredients the water will cloud.

11. Water Test

12. Chilli powder
Chilli powder, a powdered spice
mix comprise of chilli peppers, either red
peppers or cayenne peppers, has become
the basic ingredient in majority of
cuisine. It is used as a spice to add
pungency and flavor to culinary dishes.
In American English, the spelling is
usually "chili"; in British English, "chilli"
is used consistently.

13. Medicinal Properties of Chilli Powder
● Besides adding an extra kick to the food, these species of capsicum annuum are
also used in ayurvedic medicines to fight many diseases. Chillies are an
excellent source of vitamin, A, B, C and E with minerals like molybdenum,
manganese, folate, potassium, thiamin, and copper.They contain seven times
more Vitamin C than orange.
● They are helpful in clearing nasal congestion, relieves throat infection, and acts
as painkiller in muscle spasms. Besides this, chilli powder also helps in
destroying harmful toxins and stimulating gastric juices that help in digesting
food.

14. some common Adulterants used in Chilli powder
Chilli powder is an integral part of the Indian cuisine. The spice is used to
add a strong flavour and pungency to the dishes. Additionally, the beautiful
colour obtained by adding it is worth the sight! But in spite of this, chilli
powder is most prone to adulteration.
These adulterants can cause significant harm to the body which can lead to
life-threatening diseases in the long run.

15. A few common adulterants included in chilli powder
are :
● Brick powder
● Salt powder
● Talcum powder
● Strach
● Saw dust
● Sand.

16. Another dangerous adulterant that may be added to red chilli powder is a
chemical called Rhodamine B.
Rhodamine B is a by-product of the process of extraction of chilli oil. It is
poisonous and harmful to humans.
When mixed with oil and dried, it forms a mixture that looks precisely like
red chilli powder.
This powder is meant to be used as an
additive in furnaces. However, there have
been reports of same being mixed with and
sold as chilli powder in parts of AP.

17. Spice Adulterant Disease/disorder
1.Chilli Powder Brick Stomach disorder
Lead soluble dust Metal toxicity/ cancer/
lead poisoning
Rodamine B Cancer
Oil soluble tar Heart
disease,tumor,damage to
liver
Table-1 Disorders caused due to adultered chilli powder

18. How to detect adulterants in chilli powder
METHODOLOGY:
The methods adopted for detection of adulterants are given below- 8 random samples are
collected and the following methods are referred to check adulteration CHILLI POWDER:
a. To detect the presence of red lead salts: Dilute nitric acid is added to the sample of chilli
powder. The solution is filtered. Next 2 drops of Potassium Iodide is added to the
filtrate. Formation of yellow coloured precipitate indicates the presence of red lead salts.
b. To detect the presence of oil soluble coal tar: 2 g of chilli powder is taken in a test tube.
Few ml of ether solvent is added and the test tube is shaken well. Ether layer is decanted
into a test tube containing 2 ml of dilute Hydrochloric acid. It is shaken properly.Distinct pink
to red colour of the lower acid layer will indicate the presence of oil soluble coal tar

19. c.To detect the presence of brick powder: Chilli powder is added in a beaker
containing water. Brick powder settles down while pure chilli powder floats.
d. To detect the presence of Rhodamine B: 2 g of chilli powder is taken in a
test tube.5 ml of acetone is added. Immediate red colouration indicates the
presence of Rhodamine B

20. Presence of brick powder
Presence of Rhodamine B

21. References
● https://www.zizira.com/blogs/plants/adulteration-in-turmeric-powder-happens-can-you-avoid-i
● Detection of Food Adulterants in Chilli, Turmeric and Coriander Powders by Physical and Chemical
Methods et,al.Sourish Sen (2017).
● https://www.vasantmasala.com/blog/find-out-the-purity-of-your-red-chilli-powder/
● https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/andhras-adulterated-chilli-powder-problem-how-it-made-and-
how-harmful-it-54122
● https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322759028_Detection_of_food_adulterants_in_chilli_turmeri
c_and_coriander_powders_by_physical_and_chemical_methods