How to check mawa or khoya adulteration in 4 easy steps

Diwali is around the corner and so is the time to soak yourself into festivity. Diwali is not only the most famous festival in India but also brings along with itself a long list of delish food items. From main course meals to snacks and sweets, Diwali is the perfect time to gorge on your favourite food items. While many people purchase sweets from halwai and shops, most people prefer them homemade. The main ingredient which goes into almost all sweets is khoya, also known as mawa. There is always a concern regarding its purity, as we often hear instances of massive adulteration during Diwali. If you too make homemade barfis and ladoos using khoya, use the following methods to test its purity.

This is the first and the easiest method which The Food Standards and Safety Authority (FSSAI) has given to test the quality of khoya. Just take a teaspoon of khoya from the packet you have bought from the market and add it to a cup of hot water. Now a little bit of iodine in the cup. If the khoya turns blue after dropping iodine in it, then it has been adulterated using starch. If not, it is pure and fit to use.

Another method uses sulphuric acid to test the presence of chemicals like formalin, which is used as a preservative in milk or khoya. Just take a small milk or khoya sample in a beaker and add some concentrated sulphuric acid in it. If there is a violet coloured formation in the sample, then it might be adulterated.

This method will help you test the purity of mawa at the time of purchase itself. Pure and fresh mawa has an oily and grainy texture. It tastes a bit sweet and leaves a trail of grease, when rubbed on your palm. Just take some mawa before purchasing it and rub on your palm. If it has the above characteristics, it is pure. You can also taste-test it to check there is no odd flavour in it

Many sweet shops who make sweets in bulk use vanaspati instead of ghee, which saves their money and offers them a big margin. Consumption of vanaspati in large quantities can be harmful, as it is very high in trans fat and might also lead to stroke or heart attack. To test the presence of vanaspati in the sample, just add it to a container. Now mix 2 tbsp hydrochloric acid and 1 tbsp sugar in it. If the mixture turns red, the sample is impure.

Disclaimer: Make sure you try these experiments in a safe environment only after wearing protective gear and taking necessary safety precautions. Kids must stay away from such experiments.