“This Article is developed in lieu of General Awareness to Common People, the article is developed in accordance with Authors Personal experience and Adulterants declared by FSSAI and USFDA. The identification and conformity are just to check the presence, further confirmation can be followed by Approved Food testing Laboratories (FSSAI).”
Oils and fats are the common kitchen usable items. Indian kitchen is incomplete without Oils and fats which are primary ingredients of dishes. The adulteration in Oils and fats have very harmful effects and leads to several heart health related ailments.
Edible Oils are in 3 forms on the basis of processing viz. Crude Oil, Refined Oil and Vanaspati. This is where consumers are misguided by the names and their literal meanings. The fact though is
- Crude Oil that is just filtered after extracting oil from the oil seed is the healthiest. Unrefined oils still have healthy bioactive components, Vitamin E, flavour and aroma.
- Refined Oil is highly processed with the use of chemicals and heat to just retain the oil. Even oils extracted from lower quality oil seed can be refined. So, refined oil though pure is not as healthy as corresponding crude/unrefined oil.
- Vanaspati is formed by partial hydrogenation of refined vegetable oil is extremely harmful. They have Trans fats which are formed as a by product of hydrogenation.
In India, of the total 13 million tons of edible oil consumed, 10% is in the form of Vanaspati and 45% each in refined and unrefined form. Doctors and Health Departments warn consumers against intake of saturated fats, but the real culprit for all the heart problems and obesity are trans fats. Chemical analysis of trans fats gives a logical reason why trans-fats are harmful.
Chemical and Physiological Properties of fats
Fatty acids are characterized as either saturated or unsaturated based on the presence of double bonds in its structure. If the molecule contains no double bonds, it is said to be saturated; otherwise, it is unsaturated to some degree. A saturated fat has no double bonds, has the maximum number of hydrogens bonded to the carbons, and therefore is “saturated” with hydrogen atoms. The more double bonds in the fatty acid the more vulnerable it is to rancidity, as free radicals attack double bonds.
In most naturally occurring unsaturated fatty acids (and all saturated fatty acids), the hydrogen atoms are on the same side of the double bonds of the carbon chain (cis configuration — from the Latin, meaning “on the same side”). However, partial hydrogenation reconfigures most of the double bonds that do not become chemically saturated, twisting them so that the hydrogen atoms end up on different sides of the chain. This type of configuration is called trans, from the Latin, meaning “across.” The trans conformation is the lower energy form, and is favored when catalytically equilibriated as a side reaction in hydrogenation.
The trans configuration is straighter, while the cis configuration is noticeably kinked. Trans fats have a much higher melting point (45 °C), due to the ability of the trans molecules to pack more tightly, forming a solid that is more difficult to break apart. This notably means that it is a solid at human body temperatures (37 °C).
In essence, hydrogenated oil/trans fats are stable making the food products last longer and are solids at body temperature making it harder to digest.
Why we should choose Hydrogenated oils over Vanaspathy?
Hydrogenated oils are more stable than corresponding natural oils with unsaturated fats. Saturated fats are mostly found in animal sources (Butter, Ghee etc) which are scarce and hence expensive. Oils from vegetable sources are mostly unsaturated, abundant and less expensive. So, partial hydrogenation of less expensive unsaturated fats from vegetable sources is an attractive commercial proposition. They are not only stable and make the fried food product last longer but also adds to the taste. That is why we find widespread use in commercial cooking in Breads, Cookies, Cream Biscuits, Sweets, fried snacks, chocolates and ice creams.
1. Vanaspathy or Margarine
Vanaspathy is the partially hydrogenated fats and oils of plant source fats. They are common adulterants in Ghee and Butter.Possible Quality Effects
· The nutrient profile is decreased.
· The fat composition is high which alternatively rises the cholesterol levels.
Way of Detection
· Take about one tea spoon full of melted sample of Ghee with equal quantity of concentrated Hydrochloric acid in a stoppered test tube and add to it a pinch of sugar. Shake for one minute and let it for five minutes. Appearance of crimson colour in lower (acid) of Vanaspati or Margarine.
· Take about one teaspoon full of melted sample of butter with equal quantity of concentrated Hydrochloric acid in a stoppered test tube and add to it a pinch of sugar. Shake for one minute and let it for five minutes. Appearance of crimson colour in lower (acid) of Vanaspati or Margarine.
2. Meshed Potatoes & Other Starches
Potatoes are the rich in starch and used for making butter and ghee. Some other starches are also used in making of butter and ghee.Possible Quality Effects
· The nutrient profile is decreased.
Way of Detection
The presence of mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes in a sample of butter/ghee can easily e detected by adding a few drops of iodine (which is brownish in colour), turns to blue if mashed potatoes/sweet potatoes/other starches are present.
3. Colors and resins
The edible oils are adulterated with color and resins which are prohibited. The Colors are used to look a like when comparing the original ones. Resins are used to give thickness in the oil.Possible Quality Effects
· The nutrient profile is decreased.
· The Skin and digestion related health ailments
Way of Detection
Take 5 ml of sample in a test tube and add 5 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid. Shake gently, let it stand for 5 minutes. Colour will separate in the upper layer of the solution.
Coconut Oils are adulterated by mixing with any other oil which can be detected easily due to unique properties of the coconut oil as the coconut oil freezes below room temperature and segregating the adulterant un-freezed. (i.e Coconut oil solidifies leaving the adulterant as a Separate layer)
Contraindications and Other Health Concerns
The primary health risk identified for trans fat consumption is an elevated risk of coronary heart disease. The reason is trans fat increases the level of LDL or bad cholesterol and decreases HDL or good cholesterol. Other ill-effects are Alzheimer’s disease, Cancer, Diabetes, Obesity, Liver dysfunction and infertility in women.Prevention of Food Adulteration Act specifies that the melting point of Vanaspati be strictly less than 41 °C. That means manufactures must ensure that hydrogenation is stopped before melting point reaches that point. Also, the labels in packed food products must show the amount of trans fats in the food sample. ITC, Britannia and the likes who are branded manufacturers of such food products clearly mention that Trans fats are bad for health just like Cigarette packs mention ‘Smoking is injurious to health’.