Detection of Adulterant in Dal

Food is one of the essential factors in our daily life that provides nutritional support for the human body. Due to the population explosion in India the demand for food has increased and traders have started mixing cheaper substances with food. These cheaper or undesirable substances added to food are called adulterants. Metanil yellow is a principal non-permitted food colour used extensively in India. The effect of long-term consumption of metanil yellow on the developing and adult brain causes neurotoxicity. Metanil yellow is used in dal as an adulterant for colouring. Its presence can be tested in dal with the help of dil. hydrochloric acid.

This video explains how to test for the presence of the adulterant ‘Metanil Yellow’ in dal.