The increasing adulteration of commercially available food items has become a major threat to our health, significantly increasing the risk of serious illnesses. Since mustard oil is used for cooking in every household, it’s crucial to know its purity. Learn three simple and foolproof home methods for detecting adulteration in mustard oil—including the paper test and the hydrochloric acid test—so you can avoid dangerous consumption of adulterated oil and keep your family healthy.
Adulterated Mustard Oil is Harmful to Health
Many food items in today’s market are being widely adulterated. Consuming adulterated mustard oil can be extremely harmful to your health. Therefore, it’s crucial to be aware of certain key points to detect adulteration in mustard oil. Some simple home methods can easily determine whether mustard oil is adulterated or completely pure.
Identify by Smell Test
Pure mustard oil can be identified by its strong, natural mustard-like smell. If the mustard oil is completely pure, it will have a pungent, natural smell. Conversely, if the mustard oil is adulterated, it will have a mild or unusual smell. The smell test is the quickest way to check for purity.
Paper Test and Acid Test
Some simple scientific tests can be easily performed at home to determine the purity of mustard oil, providing concrete evidence.
Simple Method of Paper Test
You can also determine the purity of mustard oil using a paper test. To do this, take a piece of white paper and place a few drops of mustard oil on it. If a dark yellow or brown stain remains on the paper, the oil is adulterated. However, if the oil is completely pure, it will leave a light yellow stain on the paper. This simple test indicates the presence of other oils or harmful substances in the oil.
Testing with Hydrochloric Acid
To determine if mustard oil is adulterated, take a glass bottle and pour mustard oil into it. After adding the oil, add a few drops of hydrochloric acid and mix thoroughly. If the oil turns orange or red, it is completely adulterated. If the mustard oil is pure, there will be no change in its color. This important test gives you concrete information about adulteration and is extremely helpful in ensuring the health of your family.