Recently, the Food Safety Department team raided a fenced boundary wall in Ajmer, Rajasthan. A factory manufacturing adulterated jaggery was functioning there. The team recovered 9,000 kg of jaggery and 30 bags of one kg each of Safolite, a substance mixed with jaggery, from the spot. Apart from this, barrels filled with rotten jaggery were also found, which stank.
The demand for jaggery is highest during the winter season. In such a situation, adulterers want to earn more by selling adulterated jaggery. Adulterated jaggery can be harmful to health. Therefore, before buying jaggery, it is very important to identify the real and fake jaggery.
So, today, in the current times of need, we will be able to identify real and fake jaggery. You will also learn that-
What kind of adulteration can be in fake jaggery? What health problems can be caused by consuming fake jaggery?
Expert: Chaturbhuj Meena, State Food Analyst, Jharkhand
Dr Amrita Mishra, nutritionist and dietetic (New Delhi)
Question: What kind of things do adulterers adulterate with jaggery to earn profit?
Answer: Generally, adulterers add things like calcium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate in fake jaggery. Calcium carbonate increases the weight of jaggery, while addition of sodium bicarbonate improves the color of jaggery. Apart from this, sugar and a chemical called sepholite are mixed in jaggery. Safelite increases the shelf life of jaggery and it can be kept fresh for longer. Eating jaggery made from these chemicals can cause many health problems.
Question: How harmful is adulterated jaggery to our body?
Answer – Apart from being tasty, jaggery is also very beneficial for the body. It is a good source of vitamin C, iron, potassium and magnesium. This strengthens the body’s immunity. The body remains protected from colds, coughs, flu and other illnesses. However, all these benefits are available only when the jaggery is completely pure. It should not be adulterated with any type of chemical product. Instead of bringing benefits, adulterated jaggery can cause serious illnesses in the body.
See in the graph below how consuming adulterated jaggery is harmful to the body.
Question: What is the complete process of making real jaggery?
Answer: Jaggery is made from sugarcane. Come, with the help of these points tell us what is the entire process from harvesting sugarcane to making jaggery.
First, the sugarcane is harvested and carefully washed. Then the sugarcane juice is extracted by putting it in a crusher installed in the jaggery factory. This juice is cleaned and filtered. Waste is thrown away. In the next process, the sugarcane juice is heated in a large vessel. To boil the juice, the flame is kept low. After heating the juice, it is kept in an earthen container to increase its density. This changes the color of the jaggery. After this, the jaggery is kept in a large container to cool. As it cools, the jaggery solidifies. Then it is shaped by placing it in different molds and sold in the market.
Question: How can we identify real and fake jaggery?
Answer – Jaggery is a superfood rich in many nutrients.
But jaggery sold in the market can also be adulterated, which can harm your health. Therefore, it is important to identify jaggery before eating it.
Question: What are the benefits of eating jaggery in winter?
Answer – Eating jaggery is very beneficial in winter. You can include it daily in your diet. Jaggery is generally known as a natural sweetener. It is much less processed than sugar, which retains its natural nutrients.
Its regular consumption during the winter season does not cause health problems like cough, cold or indigestion. Apart from this, eating jaggery has many other benefits. Understand this from the graph below.
Question: How much jaggery should an adult eat during the winter season?
Answer – Dr Amrita Mishra, nutritionist and dietitian, says that a healthy adult should consume around 10 to 15 grams of jaggery per day in winter. Consuming jaggery in larger quantities can be harmful. It can also have negative effects on the body.
Question: Is eating jaggery beneficial for everyone?
Answer – Dr. Amrita Mishra says that it is true that eating jaggery gives strength to the body, but in certain health problems you should definitely consult your dietitian before eating jaggery. Such as-
Diabetes: Jaggery contains a high amount of sucrose. Therefore, people with diabetes should consult a dietitian before eating jaggery. This can increase blood sugar levels.
People suffering from obesity: People suffering from obesity should also avoid eating jaggery. In fact, jaggery is high in calories, which can lead to weight gain.
People with skin allergies: Jaggery contains sucrose. Sucrose is a type of sugar that can increase allergies.
People with digestive problems: Jaggery has a high fiber content, which can be harmful for people with digestive problems.
Pregnant Women: Pregnant women should not consume jaggery without the advice of a doctor.
Heart and Kidney Patients: Jaggery is high in sugar and calories, which can be harmful for patients with heart and kidney diseases.
Also This News Related to Adulterated Things Necessary News – Is There Cow Dung in Your Coffee: 30% Food Samples Fail Test, Adulteration Poses Health Threat
Adulterants add poor quality ingredients to food products in order to make maximum profits. In this age of adulteration, no food is spared, from milk and ghee to cooking oil and spices. …