New Delhi. The demand for sweets increases rapidly during festivals and celebrations, especially on the occasion of Eid-Diwali. The risk of adulteration also increases equally in this season. During festivals, many shopkeepers resort to adulteration of sweets to earn more profits, which can pose a serious threat to health.
Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) officials said during a conversation that during Diwali, the highest number of cases of adulteration are being seen in major ingredients like mawa, paneer and desi ghee. According to these officials, potato or semolina starch is being mixed in adulterated mawa, which can be identified with iodine solution. Similarly, adulteration of vegetable oil and other artificial ingredients in cheese and ghee is also harmful for health. Experts have advised to avoid colorful and brightly colored sweets and buy only from reputed stores. According to doctors, there is a risk of stomach, kidney and heart related problems due to consumption of adulterated sweets. Consuming adulterated sweets for a long time can also have negative effects on the liver and kidneys. Health officials have appealed to the people to keep in mind the purity while purchasing sweets and buy the products only from certified shops so that they can enjoy the festivals in a safe and healthy manner.
On the advice of food safety experts and doctors, here is how adulterated sweets can be identified-
- Adulteration in Mawa: Put a drop of iodine solution on the mawa; If the mawa turns black or blue, it means there is adulteration of starch in it.
- Oil Adulteration: Instead of real milk fat, cheaper vegetable or soybean oil can be added to the mawa. Such mawa feels astringent on the tongue.
- Adulteration in cheese: Real cheese is smooth, but oil is added to adulterated cheese for lubrication. To check this, you can check it with iodine solution.
- Colorful Sweets: Avoid overly brightly colored sweets, as they may contain high amounts of artificial colours.
- Silver Work: Real silver work disappears when rubbed with the thumb, but if aluminum is mixed with it, it will turn into a bullet.
Health harm caused by adulterated sweets-
- Stomach and kidney: Adulterated sweets increase the chances of stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhea, and kidney stones.
- Liver and Heart: Adulteration of poor quality oils increases cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart diseases.
- Allergy and other symptoms: Adulterated colors and preservatives can cause problems like skin allergies, throat problems, stomach ache and vomiting.
To protect health during festivals, the best solution is to avoid adulterated sweets.