Food adulteration is not uncommon. There have been many cases over the years where traders have been caught with adulterated grains and other food items. The other item used for adulteration is so similar to the grain or food item that it is difficult, or at times impossible, to catch hold of. Hence, FSSAI keeps sharing tips and tricks to understand and check adulteration. The recent one helps to identify argemone seed adulteration In mustard seeds.
FSSAI Video: Argemone Seed Adulteration In Mustard Seeds
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) has shared an informative video on their official Twitter account. The video helps viewers with a trick to identify adulteration of mustard seeds with argemone seeds.
In the video, the person asks consumers to take a small quantity of mustard seeds on a glass plate. Now, using a magnifying glass, one has to closely examine the seeds. While examining the seeds, one has to check if there are any rough surfaces or grainy black seeds.
The seeds, which are actually mustard seeds, will have a smooth outer surface. The ones that are adulterated with argemone seeds will have a rough surface.
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Spot The Difference
Argemone seeds, or Argemone mexicana, are prickly poppy plants that grow wild and indiscriminately in India. The plant has bright yellow flowers and large, prickly leaves. They look very similar to mustard seeds and are hence used for adulterating mustard seeds. These seeds may be harvested with mustard crops as they mature with them.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said that adulteration of food actually deceives the consumer and causes a heavy risk to their lives by adversely impacting their health. They are making sure to share different methods that are easy and common for people to use and check for any such adulteration.
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