Telangana Meals Security Division demonstrates strategies to determine adulterated meals

Guests on the ‘Eat Proper Mela’ held at Nature Treatment Hospital in Hyderabad on Monday (April 6, 2026) had been drawn to 2 interactive stalls arrange by the Telangana Meals Security Division, the place officers demonstrated how widespread meals objects are sometimes adulterated and the way customers can detect them utilizing easy strategies.

The stalls targeted on two main areas of concern: the usage of synthetic colours in meals and adulteration of milk and dairy merchandise.

On the stall showcasing artificially coloured meals objects, quite a lot of generally consumed merchandise had been displayed, together with candy potatoes with unnaturally vivid pores and skin, vividly coloured dried kiwi slices, inexperienced peas, fennel seeds (saunf), and multi-coloured confectionery objects. The show highlighted how extreme and non-permitted coloring brokers are used to boost visible attraction and mislead customers.

Detecting adulteration by way of visible inspection

Officers from the Telangana State Meals Testing Laboratory in Nacharam, the one meals testing facility within the State, defined that whereas laboratory testing entails chemical reagents and exact evaluation, customers can detect adulteration of some meals objects by way of cautious visible inspection. Objects with excessively vivid, uniform or unnatural colours, comparable to fluorescent inexperienced peas or intensely orange slices, could point out the usage of artificial dyes. In some circumstances, colour may additionally rub off when touched or washed, serving as a transparent warning signal, they defined.

The second stall targeted on milk and dairy merchandise. As an example, the presence of starch in milk might be detected by including iodine resolution, which turns blue-black if starch is current. Equally, impurities in ghee and butter might be recognized by way of adjustments in texture, scent and response to warmth or chemical substances. Guests had been additionally proven how diluted milk might be detected by way of consistency and layering when left undisturbed.

The demonstration included sensible setups with droppers and small containers, permitting attendees to look at how totally different samples reacted underneath testing circumstances. The officers mentioned such consciousness is essential as milk and dairy merchandise are among the many Mostly adulterated meals objects attributable to excessive demand.

They famous that whereas laboratory affirmation stays the gold commonplace, rising client consciousness can act as the primary line of protection in opposition to meals adulteration. They mentioned the goal of the stalls was not solely to coach but additionally to empower folks to make safer meals selections of their every day lives.