Intentional Adulteration: Causes, Side Effects & Methods of Prevention
Food adulteration is a dangerous practice that merchants follow to illegally make a profit. This practice debases the nutritional value of the food and even makes it harmful to consumers.
There are different types of food adulteration practices among merchants. Intentional adulteration is one of them. If you wish to know more about it, you have come to the right place. Read through the following sections to obtain in-depth knowledge about one of the worst food adulteration practices in the industry.
What Is Intentional Adulteration in Food?
Intentional Adulteration refers to the practice of deliberately contaminating food by a person or group of people. These people may or may not be related to the food business. As a result, intentional adulteration is a serious threat to the safety of the food as well as the health of the consumers.
Now that you know what the term means, you must be wondering ‘what is the purpose of intentional adulteration in food?’ Let’s delve deeper to get a clear answer.
What Are the Main Causes of Intentional Adulteration?
The main causes of intentional adulteration in food are listed below.
- Individuals/merchants/groups of people who want to increase the food quantity and enlarge the food distribution network often take up this practice.
- Merchants practice intentional adulteration as a business strategy.
- They also practice this to manage demand and supply gaps.
Tampering with food in this way diminishes its nutritional value and brings along significant side effects on human health. Read on to know about the various adulterants and their side effects on consumers.
What Are the Side Effects of Intentional Adulteration?
The table will help you get a clear idea of the side effects of intentional adulteration.
| Food Products | Adulterants | Side Effects on Human Body |
| Cheese, ghee and butter | Vanaspati, starch powder and mashed potatoes | Gastro-intestinal and other stomach disorders |
| Coffee powder | Powdered tamarind seeds, chicory | Diarrhoea |
| Honey | Molasses, dextrose, sugar and corn syrups | Stomach disorders |
| Jaggery | Washing soda, chalk powder | Vomiting and other stomach disorders |
| Turmeric powder | Pesticide residues, sawdust, chalk dust, industrial dyes, metallic yellow dye, arsenic, lead, metal, etc. | Cancer and stomach disorders |
| Pepper | Blackberries and dried seeds of papaya | Allergic reactions, skin and stomach irritations |
| Tea | Artificial colouring agents | Liver disorders |
| Edible Oils | Artificial colours, karanja oil, mineral oil and castor oil | Gallbladder cancer, cardiac arrest, allergies, paralysis, and high LDL cholesterol |
| Cinnamon sticks | Cassia bark | Low blood sugar, liver issues, mouth sores and elevated risk of cancer |
| Cumin seeds | Sawdust, coloured grass seeds and charcoal dust | Stomach disorders |
| Grains | Dust, pebbles, stones, straw, weed seeds, damaged grain, etc. | Liver disorders, toxicity in the body, etc. |
| Mustard seeds | Argemone seeds | Abdominal contractions, sluggishness and increased excretion |
| Milk and curd | Water and starch powder | Stomach disorders |
| Sugar | Chalk powder, Washing soda, Urea, etc. | Stomach disorders and kidney failure |
How to Stop Intentional Adulteration?
To stop intentional adulteration, the Government or the Food Safety and Authorities Department of India took certain steps. They are:
- Keeping food distribution networks under regular surveillance and monitoring.
- Inspecting and collecting food samples regularly yet randomly to find out the people responsible.
This malicious practice can also be curbed down through enough public awareness.
Now that you fully know about intentional adulteration in food and are aware of its causes and side effects, you have better chances to avoid being a victim of this illegal practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different intentional adulterants?
The most common intentional adulterants are stones, chalk powder, water, mineral oil mud, other filth, sand, marble chips, talc, and harmful colour.
What intentional adulterants are added to tomato sauces?
Pumpkin pulp, non-edible artificial colours and flavours are added to tomato sauces.