Detection of Common adulterants in Ghee (Clarified Butter) at home

Detection of adulterants in Ghee at home

FOOD ITEM : CLARIFIED BUTTER OR GHEE

DETECTION OF ADULTERATION AT HOME

ADULTERANT : VEGETABLE OIL OR MARGARINE

DETECTION METHOD : 

(i).    Melt the ghee and put about one teaspoonful in a bottle. 

(ii).   Then add a pinch of sugar to it. 

(iii).  Close the bottle and shake vigorously so as to mix the sugar

(iv).  Keep it untouched for about 5-6 minutes.

(v).   If a red colour is observed in the bottom of ghee after 5 minutes, then the sample is adulterated with vegetable oil or margarine

ADULTERANT : COCONUT OIL

DETECTION METHOD : 

(i).   Melt a small amount of ghee.

(ii).  Pour into a transparent jar (glass/plastic)(iii). Immediately put jar into fridge until it becomes hard(iv). If Adulterated with coconut oil, the ghee and the coconut oil will solidify in clearly visible separate layers.

ADULTERANT : SWEET POTATO, MASHED POTATO OR OTHER STARCHES

DETECTION METHOD : 

(i).   Melt small quantity about 1-2 tablespoon in a vessel.(ii).  Pour few drops of iodine solution to the melted ghee.(iii). If the Iodine Solution turns Purple then the ghee is adulterated with starch (like Sweet potato or mashed potato).

OTHER ADULTERANTS : OLD AND RANCID GHEE / ANIMAL FAT(e.g. TALLOW)

DETECTION METHOD :

Detection of these adulterants is not feasible to do at home without specific lab chemicals used for particular test(e.g. detection of old and rancid ghee will require  Hydrochloric acid & 0.1% ether solution of phloroglucinolor which are not present in homes mostly, even in some cases specific lab instruments are required to perform the tests.