Red chilli is one of the most common spices in our pantry. A whole red chilli is used to add tadka to dal, whereas red chilli flakes are sprinkled on pizza and pasta for garnishing. And then there is red chilli powder. It not only helps add that extra zing to your meal but also enhances the color to make it look rich and luscious. Earlier, red chillies were sundried and then pounded to get the powder, which were then stored for future use. However, today, in this fast-paced world, we get ready-made red chilli powder that is easily available at every grocery store. But did you know, the red chilli powder you are buying from your nearby store might be adulterated? That’s right.

_{Red chili powder can be adulterated too}

(Also read : 5 Plant-Based Foods Rich In Vitamin A To Include In Your Daily Diet As Per FSSAI)

Often powdered brick and soapstone powder are added to red chilli powder to enhance the colour. This, in turn, affects our health negatively. Now the question is, how to find the red chilli powder we are using is pure. Fret not, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has shared a simple solution to it.

FSSAI took to Twitter to share a video featuring few simple steps to find the purity of red chilli powder. Let’s do a simple test.

Step 1. Take a glass of water.

Step 2. Add a spoon of red chilli powder to it.

Step 3. Now examine the residue-

Rub the residue on your palm. If any grittiness is felt after rubbing, then there’s brick powder/sand in it. And if you feel it to be soapy and smooth, then there’s soap stone in it.

Watch The Video Demonstration Here:

Is your Chilli powder adulterated with brickpowder/sand?#DetectingFoodAdulterants_8#AzadiKaAmritMahotsav@jagograhakjago@mygovindia@MIB_India@AmritMahotsav@MoHFW_INDIApic.twitter.com/qZyPNQ3NDN— FSSAI (@fssaiindia) September 29, 2021

About Somdatta SahaExplorer- this is what Somdatta likes to call herself. Be it in terms of food, people or places, all she craves for is to know the unknown. A simple aglio olio pasta or daal-chawal and a good movie can make her day.