15000 liters of fake ghee seized, FSSAI told how to identify whether ghee is real or fake in 5 seconds

What is starch?

Starch is a carbohydrate made up of many glucose units. The main sources of starch include cereals (such as wheat, rice and corn) and root vegetables (such as potatoes and sweet potatoes). Consuming starch in excess can cause many health problems.

How to identify whether your market ghee is real or fake?

Why is starch added to food items?

Starch is added to foods for a variety of reasons. When heated, starch thickens soups, sauces, and gravies. It improves the texture and mouthfeel of foods such as puddings and pie fillings. It helps bind ingredients in things such as meatloaves and baked goods.

Why starch is added to ghee?

Normally, pure ghee should not contain starch. Ghee, which is a kind of butter, is a dairy product consisting almost entirely of fat, and has negligible amounts of water and milk solids. However, in some cases starch is added to ghee for adulteration. Adding starch to ghee can increase its volume, allowing manufacturers to sell more quantity at a lower cost. Starch is cheaper than pure ghee. By adding starch to ghee, manufacturers reduce production costs and deceive consumers into thinking they are getting pure ghee. Usually, things like mashed tomatoes and sweet potatoes are added to ghee.

Starch adulterated with ghee is harmful for health

• Decrease in nutritional properties: The nutritional content in adulterated ghee is less as compared to pure ghee. This is because starch does not contain the nutrients that are found in real ghee. This also reduces the health benefits of ghee.
• Digestive problems: Some people have trouble digesting certain types of carbohydrates. In such a case, if ghee contains adulterated starch, it can cause them stomach problems, such as gas formation, bloating or diarrhea.
• Allergy risk: Some people may be allergic to certain starches, such as potato or wheat starch. If such starches are used for adulteration, people with allergies may have problems consuming it.

How to identify starch in ghee

• Put half a teaspoon of ghee in a transparent glass bottle
• Add three drops of iodine solution into it.
• If the color does not change then the ghee is genuine
• If the color changes to blue then understand that the ghee is fake

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It cannot in any way be a substitute for any medicine or treatment. Always contact your doctor for more information.