Common adulterants in Milk and their detection at your home

DETECTION OF ADULTERANTS IN FOOD ITEMS AT HOME

FOOD ARTICLE : MILK

Detection of Adulteration at Home

ADULTERANT : WATER

DETECTION METHOD :Put a drop of milk on a polished slanting surface. The drop of pure milk either flows slowly leaving a white trail behind it or doesn't flow at all, whereas milk adulterated water will flow immediately without leaving a mark.

ADULTERANT : STARCH

DETECTION METHOD : Add a few drops of tincture of Iodine or Iodine solution.If iodine solution turns blue, then it indicates the presence of starch

ADULTERANT : DETERGENT

DETECTION METHOD :Take about 1 tablespoon milk and equal amount of water in a bottle or jar with close-able lid, then shake the bottle throughly for a few seconds.Milk adulterated with detergent will form dense lather or foam. Whereas unadulterated milk will not form any lather or a very thin layer may be observed due to shaking

ADULTERANT : SYNTHETIC MILK 

DETECTION METHOD : Synthetic milk has a bitter after taste, gives a soapy feeling on rubbing between the fingers and turns yellowish on heating. Can also be tested using Urease strips (generally available at medical stores).

Now, you are able to detect some of the adulteration in milk by basic tests. You must try these and know you are getting good quality & unadulterated milk at your home & remain fit and healthy.

NOTE : There are many more milk adulterants other than what are mentioned here. This post covers only those adulterants which can be easily detected at home and hopefully will be helpful for you to detect adulterants by these basic tests at home.Other adulterants can be tested or detected in labs since they require specialized equipments or chemicals, which are not normally available at home.