9 quintals of adulterated mawa seized in Kanpur: 5 methods to check mawa purity at home

Holi celebration is incomplete without mawa treats. From gujiya to malpua, the list of mawa dishes is endless, which also gives market players the scope to play around and flood the market with adulterated mawa. In a major crackdown, the Food Security and Drug Administration on Wednesday seized 9 quintals of adulterated mawa and edible oil worth Rs 29.8 lakh in Kanpur. The raid was conducted at Panki Railway Station, where the adulterated mawa and oil were brought via an Etawah-Kanpur passenger train. The mawa was valued at Rs 3.42 lakh and was immediately transported to a disposal plant and destroyed.

As per experts, the most common adulterants used in the process of making fake mawa are starch, vegetable fats, blotting paper, and chalk powder. It is said that starch increases bulk, while chalk powder imitates the appearance and vegetable fats alter the texture. So, if you are also planning to buy mawa from the market to make delicacies for Holi, practice these 5 methods to do a mawa purity test at home.

As per the Food Standards and Safety Authority (FSSAI), for this test, all you need to do is, take a teaspoon of khoya from the packet and add it to a cup of hot water. Next, add 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 for human consumption.

Another method that one can use at home involves a sample of sulphuric acid, which helps to test the presence of chemicals like formalin. All you need to do is, take a small khoya sample in a beaker and add some concentrated sulphuric acid to it. If there is a violet-coloured formation in the sample, then it might be adulterated.

This test can be done right at the time of buying mawa. As per FSSAI, fresh mawa has an oily and grainy texture. It tastes a bit sweet and leaves a trail of grease, when rubbed on your palm. All you need to do is, take some mawa before purchasing it and rub it on your palm. If it has the above characteristics, it is pure. One can also taste a bit to check if it has that natural sweetness to it or not.

To test the presence of vanaspati in the sample, just add it to a container and then mix 2 tbsp hydrochloric acid and 1 tbsp sugar to it. If the mixture turns red, the sample is impure and unfit for human consumption.

Heat some mawa in a pan and add 1 tbsp sugar to it. As the sugar melts and if it starts leaving water on the sides of the pan, it is surely adulterated and is unfit for human consumption.

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