Adulterants In Jeera Cumin Seeds
Cumin is mostly used in spicy dishes and is consumed extensively all over India. After delivery, cumin is given to new mothers in everything from dal to panjiri and desi laddus, because it is very beneficial for health. Cumin is quite expensive in the market and due to this, adulteration has started in it to earn profit. Is adulterated or fake cumin being used in your kitchen which is causing harm to your health instead of benefit? Let us see how you can identify adulteration in cumin.
According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, protein, different types of carbohydrates, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin A, carotene beta, lutein-jaxanthine, vitamin C, and fatty acids are also found in cumin. Big celebrities take cumin water in their morning routine, because it works as a detox and is helpful in weight loss. For now, let us know how to identify adulteration in cumin.
What things are adulterated?
Mostly grass seeds are mixed in cumin and it is sold at the same price as cumin. This is a kind of fake cumin. Apart from this, charcoal dust and other indigenous things are added to increase the weight and make the complexion look brighter. All these things can be very harmful for your health. This may spoil your digestion. There is damage to the liver and allergies may occur. The standards set by FSSAI for spices. According to him, adding extraneous substances or colors in any way is not allowed.
Check by putting it in water
A simple way to check adulteration in cumin is to take a glass and add one spoon of cumin in it. You will come to know if there is any kind of color or dust mixed in it. If the water starts appearing cloudy due to dust, then if there is adulteration of color then it starts dissolving in the water immediately, whereas the color does not go away from the real cumin seeds. Only when you soak it overnight, you will see a light color in the water in the morning, whereas the color starts coming out from the fake cumin seeds immediately within some time.
Image: FSSAI
find out by smelling
Due to its special aroma, cumin is used in everything from garam masala to tadka and a good way to detect adulteration is to taste it by smelling it. If you smell any unusual smell, it may be adulteration with synthetic colors containing chemicals.
rub it on the palm
FSSAI has also told the method to check adulteration of grass seeds in cumin. For this, take a little cumin and rub it tightly in your palm. If there is no adulteration then your palm will remain clean, whereas if there are grass seeds then they leave color on the hands. In this way, you can find out in simple steps whether cumin is adulterated or not.
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Cumin has many benefits
According to the information given in Health Line, cumin not only promotes your digestion but also maintains your gut health. Apart from this, being a source of iron, it is helpful in hemoglobin production. While it is considered very beneficial for new mothers, cumin benefits health in many ways including weight and fat reduction.
Also read: For many years, what I thought was a vegetable turned out to be a fruit, don’t you also make this mistake?