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Fake Food Detector | 45+ Home Tests to Spot Adulteration in Indian Groceries
Nutribox Awareness Guide

Fake Food Detector

Is the food in your kitchen really pure?

45+ simple home tests to spot adulteration in milk, spices, oil, honey, dal, fruit and tea, using things you already have in your kitchen.

  • 45+ home tests
  • 7 food groups
  • 30-day pantry challenge
  • 176 pages
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🎯 Play: Real or risky? ↓
The facts

What the surveys found

Most food fraud is dilution, not poison. But it pays to check.

41%

of loose milk samples failed quality checks, mostly because of added water.

Source: FSSAI National Milk Safety & Quality Survey
24%

of loose cooking oils failed quality tests, compared with about 8% of sealed branded oils.

Source: FSSAI & CSE surveillance, as quoted in the book
<0.2%

of milk had dangerous chemicals like detergent or urea. The real problem is everyday dilution.

Source: FSSAI National Milk Safety & Quality Survey
Test yourself

Real or risky?

Tap the one you think is pure. Then see the 60-second test that tells them apart.

Which chilli powder is pure?

Which chilli powder is pure?

Pure chilli powder floats and settles slowly. Red streaks or gritty sediment point to added colour or brick dust.Water settling test · page 47
Which milk has no detergent?

Which milk has no detergent?

Shake milk with a little water. A thin froth that settles is normal. A thick lather that stays can mean detergent.Shake test · page 29
Which tea is pure?

Which tea is pure?

A clean magnet means no iron filings. Tiny black bits sticking to the magnet mean the tea needs a closer look.Magnet sweep test · page 133
Which mangoes ripened naturally?

Which mangoes ripened naturally?

Naturally ripe mangoes usually sink. Floating fruit can be a sign of chemical (carbide) ripening.Bucket float test · page 117

The simple method

Spot. Screen. Verify. Report.

🔍
SpotKnow the warning signs in colour, smell and texture.
🧪
ScreenRun a 60-second home test with kitchen items.
✅
VerifyUnsure? Use an FSSAI-notified lab for proof.
📣
ReportComplain on FSSAI's Food Safety Connect app.
Inside the book

45+ tests, grouped by food

Pick a food group to see a few of the tests inside.

Milk & dairy
Water in milk
You needA tilted steel plate
Look forPure milk leaves a white trail; watered milk runs fast
Starch in milk or paneer
You need2 drops of iodine
Look forTurns blue-black if starch is added
Detergent in milk
You needA bottle with a little water
Look forThick lather that won't settle

Plus many more tests in the book, with photos of what pure and adulterated look like.

Spices
Colour in turmeric
You needLemon juice or vinegar
Look forTurns pink-magenta if a banned dye is added
Brick dust in chilli
You needA glass of water
Look forGritty sediment and red streaks
Papaya seeds in pepper
You needA glass of water
Look forPapaya seeds float, pepper sinks

Plus many more tests in the book, with photos of what pure and adulterated look like.

Oils & ghee
Palm oil in coconut oil
You needYour fridge
Look forSeparate cloudy layers instead of one solid block
Starch in butter
You need2 drops of iodine
Look forTurns blue if mashed potato or starch is added
Old or rancid oil
You needYour nose and eyes
Look forSharp smell and darker colour

Plus many more tests in the book, with photos of what pure and adulterated look like.

Honey, sugar & jaggery
Chalk in sugar
You needA glass of water
Look forWhite chalky layer settles at the bottom
Washing soda in jaggery
You needA spoon of vinegar
Look forFizzing bubbles
Honey myths
You needNo test needed
Look forWhy the viral thumb and matchstick tests don't work

Plus many more tests in the book, with photos of what pure and adulterated look like.

Grains & dals
Khesari dal in toor dal
You needA plate and good light
Look forWedge-shaped, square-edged grains
Colour polish on dal
You needWarm water
Look forYellow colour leaking into the water
Talc or polish on rice
You needRub with wet fingers
Look forWhite powder on your fingers

Plus many more tests in the book, with photos of what pure and adulterated look like.

Fruits & vegetables
Carbide-ripened mangoes
You needA bucket of water
Look forFloating fruit is a warning sign
Green dye on peas and gourds
You needA wet cotton ball
Look forCotton turns green
Wax on apples
You needA blunt knife
Look forWhite waxy scrapings

Plus many more tests in the book, with photos of what pure and adulterated look like.

Tea & coffee
Iron filings in tea
You needA magnet
Look forBlack bits stick to the magnet
Recycled tea leaves
You needWet white paper
Look forColour spreads fast
Chicory in coffee
You needA glass of cold water
Look forChicory sinks and colours the water quickly

Plus many more tests in the book, with photos of what pure and adulterated look like.

Your kitchen lab

No lab needed

Most tests use just 5 things. You probably have most of them already.

  • 🟤
    Tincture of iodineFrom any pharmacy, under ₹30
  • 🧴
    White vinegarFor the fizz tests
  • 🍋
    Fresh lemonFor dye tests
  • 🧲
    A bar magnetFor iron filings in tea
  • 🥛
    Clear glass tumblersFor water and settling tests

⚠ Keep your test kit in a labelled box, away from food and out of children's reach.

No lab needed
Myth-busting

Viral videos vs real science

Calm facts, not panic. The book checks the most shared food scares.

“Plastic rice is sold in Indian markets.”Plastic costs far more than rice, and viral videos have repeatedly been debunked. The book shows how to check your rice properly.
“Fake eggs are made in factories.”Odd-looking eggs usually have natural causes. The book explains what to look for instead.
“The matchstick test proves honey is pure.”Viral honey tests can't catch modern sugar syrups. The book explains what actually helps.
“Boiling milk removes all adulterants.”Boiling kills germs, but it can't remove added water, starch or chemicals.
“Dark jaggery is always dirty.”Very bright golden jaggery can be the one that's been bleached or coloured.
Viral videos vs real science
Take the challenge

The 30-Day Pure Pantry Challenge

One small action a day. A cleaner kitchen in 4 weeks.

Week 1Dairy & oilsTest your milk, paneer, ghee and cooking oil.
Week 2SpicesCheck turmeric, chilli, pepper, jeera and hing.
Week 3Grains, dals & produceInspect dal, rice, atta, fruit and vegetables.
Week 4Sweeteners, drinks & actionHoney, jaggery, tea, coffee, and how to report.
Shop smart, test less
Buy better

Shop smart, test less

  • Look for the 14-digit FSSAI licence number on every pack
  • Choose AGMARK-graded spices and ghee
  • Prefer sealed, branded oils and spices over loose ones
  • Buy whole spices and grind them at home
  • The +F logo means fortified: a good sign
  • Buy fruit in season, when natural ripening is easy
Take action

Found something wrong? Report it.

  1. 1Keep the food, the pack and the bill
  2. 2Take clear photos of the pack and your test
  3. 3Complain on FSSAI's Food Safety Connect app or website
  4. 4Save your complaint number to track it

The book includes the full step-by-step reporting guide, official helplines, and how to find an FSSAI-notified lab.

Found something wrong? Report it.
Made for you

Who is this guide for?

🍳

Home cooks

  • Buy loose spices, oil or milk
  • Want to know what's really in them
  • Quick tests, no lab needed
👶

Parents

  • Cooking for young children
  • Worried about dyes and fillers
  • Want calm, clear facts
🧓

Caring for elders

  • Parents with health conditions
  • Want safer ghee, oil and milk
  • Simple checks at home
🏠

New homemakers

  • Setting up a new kitchen
  • Unsure what to buy loose or packed
  • Want a pantry checklist
📱

Online grocery shoppers

  • Order from quick-commerce apps
  • Want to read labels fast
  • Know which marks to trust
🎁

Gift buyers

  • Looking for a useful gift
  • For mothers and new couples
  • Something the whole family uses
Look inside

Real pages from the book

Swipe → · Tap any page to zoom

Kitchen risk audit
Kitchen risk audit
What the surveys found
What the surveys found
The 5-item test kit
The 5-item test kit
Detergent in milk test
Detergent in milk test
Colour in turmeric test
Colour in turmeric test
Khesari dal check
Khesari dal check
Carbide mango test
Carbide mango test
Iron filings in tea
Iron filings in tea
The plastic rice myth
The plastic rice myth
30-day pantry challenge
30-day pantry challenge
10 instant grocery tests
10 instant grocery tests
How to file a complaint
How to file a complaint
Every topic inside

Open the guide, see every chapter

11 parts · 45 topics · Tap a part to see what's inside

01The Adulteration Reality14 pages · 4 topics
  1. India's Food Adulteration Landscape
  2. Economic Fraud vs. Toxic Hazards
  3. The Household Adulterant Matrix
  4. The 4-Step Detection Framework
02Milk and Dairy Staples18 pages · 4 topics
  1. The Dairy Reality: What Surveys Reveal
  2. The Household Lactometer Decoded
  3. Authentic Paneer vs. Starch-Padded
  4. Smart Dairy Purchasing Rules
03Spices and Condiments20 pages · 4 topics
  1. The Crisis in Powdered Spices
  2. Whole Spices vs. Pre-Ground Powders
  3. Decoding AGMARK Spice Standards
  4. Spice Storage: Traps vs. Safe Rules
04Cooking Oils and Desi Ghee18 pages · 4 topics
  1. The Edible Oil Landscape
  2. Epidemic Dropsy: The Argemone Threat
  3. The AGMARK Ghee Grading Hierarchy
  4. 5 Rules for Every Litre of Fat in Your Home
05Sweeteners, Honey and Jaggery16 pages · 4 topics
  1. The Groundbreaking Honey Investigation
  2. The Engineered Sugar Syrup Trap
  3. The Jaggery Color Paradox
  4. Sweetener Sourcing: Pure vs. Risky
06Grains, Pulses and Flours18 pages · 4 topics
  1. Daily Staples Under the Lens
  2. Neurolathyrism: The Khesari Hazard
  3. Polished Dal vs. Unpolished Dal
  4. The Physics of Washing & Soaking Grains
07Fresh Fruits and Vegetables16 pages · 4 topics
  1. Where Chemicals Infiltrate Produce
  2. Natural Ripening vs. Carbide Gas
  3. The ICMR-NIN 2% Salt Water Protocol
  4. Indian Seasonal Produce Calendar
08Tea, Coffee and Beverages14 pages · 4 topics
  1. The Economics of Beverage Fraud
  2. Coumarin Toxicity: The Hidden Cassia Risk
  3. Pure Coffee vs. Coffee-Chicory Blends
  4. Decoding Tea Board Quality Seals
09Food Myths vs Real Science10 pages · 4 topics
  1. The Chinese 'Plastic Rice' Panic
  2. The 'Artificial Chemical Egg' Myth
  3. The 'Boiling Kills Everything' Myth
  4. How to Fact-Check Viral Food Videos
10The 30-Day Pure Pantry Challenge10 pages · 7 topics
  1. The 30-Day Pure Pantry Challenge overview
  2. Week 1: Dairy & edible oils
  3. Week 2: Spices & condiments
  4. Week 3: Grains, pulses & fresh produce
  5. Week 4: Sweeteners, beverages & citizen action
  6. 30-day action log & tracker
  7. The 15-minute monthly pantry routine
11Food Detection Toolkit8 pages · 2 topics
  1. The Kitchen Testing Caddy Guide
  2. Filing a Complaint on Food Safety Connect
Fake Food Detector | 45+ Home Tests to Spot Adulteration in Indian Groceries
📲 PDF SOFT COPY ONLY

Fake Food Detector

  • 176 pages, full colour PDF
  • 45+ step-by-step home tests
  • 7 food groups: milk to tea
  • Viral myths checked with science
  • 30-day Pure Pantry Challenge + tracker
  • Printable fridge chart and wallet card
  • How to report fake food to FSSAI
BUY PDFSoft Copy Only · Check your email after payment Rs. 699BUY HARD COPYPrinted Book + FREE PDF· OUT OF STOCK Rs. 1,499
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  • 📱 Read on any device: mobile, tablet, laptop

📖 No hard copy will be dispatched

🎁 A thoughtful gift for every new kitchen: mothers, new couples and housewarmings.

Your questions, answered

Are these tests safe to do at home?

Yes. Most tests use water, lemon, vinegar, iodine and a magnet. The book marks the few that need extra care and how to do them safely. Keep your test kit away from children.

Are home tests 100% proof?

No. They are quick screening checks, like the FSSAI's own home tests. If something looks wrong, the book shows how to get it tested at an FSSAI-notified lab and how to report it.

Is this meant to scare me?

Not at all. Most food fraud is dilution, not poison. The book helps you check calmly, buy smarter and stop worrying about viral videos.

Who is this book for?

Any Indian home: home cooks, parents, people caring for elders, new homemakers, students in hostels and anyone who buys groceries.

Will it help with online and packaged groceries?

Yes. It covers loose and packed foods, how to read FSSAI, AGMARK and +F marks, and which items are riskier to buy loose.

How will I get the book?

It's a PDF. After payment you get a download link by email. Read it on your phone, tablet or laptop, and print the charts if you like.

Is there a printed copy?

The printed hard copy is out of stock right now. The PDF is available instantly.

Test it. Trust it. Feed your family with confidence.

Test it. Trust it. Feed your family with confidence.

Start with one test tonight. The whole kitchen in 30 days.

BUY PDFSoft Copy Only · Check your email after payment Rs. 699BUY HARD COPYPrinted Book + FREE PDF· OUT OF STOCK Rs. 1,499

Digital product (PDF soft copy only). For education and awareness only. Home tests are screening checks, not laboratory proof. For confirmed results, use an FSSAI-notified laboratory. Survey figures are quoted from official reports as cited in the book. Images are illustrative.

Rs. 699Get the book