Uncovering Food Adulteration in India: How to Spot Fake Dairy Products this Diwali

Diwali, the festival of lights, is also the season of sweets! With milk-based treats like barfi and peda taking center stage in Indian households, demand for dairy products like milk, ghee, mawa, and paneer rises sharply. Unfortunately, this season also sees a spike in food adulteration, with producers mixing cheaper, unhealthy additives into dairy products to cut costs and increase profits.

Here’s a closer look at what adulterated products look like, how to spot fake products, and what to do if you suspect a product isn’t safe.

Why Does Food Adulteration Spike During Diwali?

Food adulteration, or the practice of mixing non-authentic or harmful substances into food, is especially common in high-demand seasons like Diwali. During these times, people buy large quantities of dairy to make traditional sweets, offering an opportunity for some vendors to maximize profits by diluting or substituting genuine ingredients with cheaper alternatives.

1. High Demand: Milk, paneer, and ghee are essentials in Diwali sweets and demand surges across the country. Sellers may add substances like water, starch, or even detergent to milk, and replace milk fat in paneer and ghee with cheaper vegetable oils.

2. Profit Margins: High-quality dairy products are expensive to produce. Replacing genuine ingredients with cheaper fillers allows sellers to make significant profits while lowering product quality.

3. Weak Regulations: Although the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has stringent guidelines, enforcement can sometimes lag behind the high-volume festive market.

Common Types of Dairy Adulteration and Their Health Risks

• Milk: Adulterants in milk include water (to increase volume), starch (to thicken), and detergent (to create froth), all of which can lead to digestive issues and even poisoning in high quantities.
• Analogue Paneer (Cottage Cheese): Often made using vegetable oil instead of milk fat, adulterated paneer can have a rubbery texture and lack essential nutrients, leading to health risks over prolonged consumption.
• Khoya: A common ingredient in sweets, khoya is often mixed with starch or even formalin, a harmful preservative. While starch diminishes its quality, formalin poses serious health risks if ingested.
• Ghee (Clarified Butter): Pure ghee is expensive, so vendors sometimes use vanaspati or hydrogenated oils to make fake ghee. While these oils mimic ghee’s texture, they contain trans fats, which can contribute to heart disease when consumed frequently.

Quick Tests to Identify Adulterated Dairy Products at Home

Detecting adulteration can be challenging, but thankfully, there are some quick and easy tests you can do at home to check the purity of these products before using them.

For Milk

• Water Test: Place a drop of milk on a smooth, flat surface and tilt it slightly. If the milk flows without leaving a trail, it’s likely diluted with water. Pure milk leaves a slight streak as it flows.
• Starch Test: Mix a few drops of iodine into a small amount of milk. If the mixture turns blue, it indicates the presence of starch, often added to thicken milk.

For Paneer

• Hot Water Test: Drop a small piece of paneer in hot water. If it starts to dissolve or break apart, it may be adulterated. Genuine paneer stays intact and firm.
• Texture Test: Feel the texture of paneer between your fingers. Pure paneer will feel soft and crumbly, whereas synthetic paneer made with vegetable oils might feel rubbery​.

For Ghee

• Melting Test: Place a teaspoon of ghee in your palm. Pure ghee melts quickly at body temperature, while fake ghee with vegetable oils won’t melt as easily.
• Acid Test: Add a drop of concentrated sulfuric acid to ghee in a clear container (available in some testing kits). Pure ghee retains its colour, while adulterated ghee turns brown or red.

For Khoya/Mawa

• Texture and Colour Test: Pure khoya is soft and has a natural yellowish colour. Adulterated khoya often feels rubbery and overly white.
• Chemical Test: Dissolve a small amount in water and add a few drops of iodine. A blue colour change indicates the presence of starch

What to Do if You Find Adulterated Products

If you suspect a product is adulterated, it’s essential to report it. Here’s how to raise a complaint:

• FSSAI Helpline: Call the FSSAI at 1800112100 to report suspicious food products. Their helpline operates 24/7 and assists with food safety complaints.
• Jago Grahak Jago Portal: You can submit complaints online on the official Jago Grahak Jago consumer platform. This portal raises awareness about consumer rights and food safety.
• Consumer Helpline Portal: Use the National Consumer Helpline for reporting issues related to food safety. This platform connects you with relevant authorities and assists with complaint resolution.
• Contact Local Food Safety Officers: For a direct response, you can reach out to your local Food Safety Officer or Food Commissioner, whose contact information is available on the FSSAI website.
• Food Licensing Website: Visit the FSSAI licensing website to report restaurants and food vendors selling adulterated items. This is particularly helpful for issues related to food delivery or restaurant orders.

Staying Safe This Diwali: A Few Simple Precautions

In addition to these tests, taking a few simple precautions can help you stay safe during the festive season:

• Choose Reputable Vendors: Purchase dairy products from trusted sources, especially when buying in bulk. Stick to established brands and look for FSSAI, AGMARK, or BIS certification on packaging.
• Check Labels: Always check the label for expiration dates, certifications, and ingredient lists. Packaging without these details can be a red flag.
• Seasonal and Fresh Produce: For items like fruits and vegetables, choose seasonal options. Out-of-season produce may be preserved with chemicals, which are not ideal for health.

While Diwali is a time for celebration, it’s essential to be cautious about what we consume. While adulterated foods might seem cheaper or more accessible, the potential harm to health far outweighs these benefits. This Diwali, enjoy your favourite sweets but take a few extra steps to ensure they’re safe and genuine. Happy Diwali!