Detection of adulterants in some common food items available in the Bhutanese market

Abstract

The study was conducted during 2020-2021 at the Department of Physical Science, Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan with an objective to find out whether the food items that we consume daily are adulterated or not. Various food items, both locally produced and imported, were purchased from different Dzongkhags and analyzed in the laboratory for the presence of adulterants. Locally produced food items purchased were local butter, local cheese, local honey, local chili powder, beaten rice, etc. and imported food items included pulses, chili powder, turmeric powder, spices, milk, etc. Qualitative analysis of food items for detection of adulterants was done by a simple chemical test as per the standard procedure followed by various researchers. The finding showed that local butter was found to be adulterated with banana and dalda, local honey was adulterated with sugar syrup, and beaten rice was adulterated with chlorophyll pigment. Imported lentils were adulterated with Metanil yellow. Chili powder and some spices were adulterated with artificial colours and dust particles.