Modern day consumer is spoilt for too much variety, which could be misleading and confusing at times. Hence the consumer should make a well-informed decision.
Spices like cumin powder, red chilli powder, fenugreek seeds etc. are essential ingredients of Indian cuisine. Hence their quality is of utmost importance to ensure flavourful taste as well as physical wellbeing. Red chilli powder is usually added for its unique flavour and vibrant colour. However, points like - how safe is it to use? and could it be adulterated? - raise apprehensions in the consumer’s mind. At times, crushed wood or husk is used to increase the weight of packaged spices, or artificial colours are used to improve the look and feel of the spices. Since there are many unorganised players in the market like neighbourhood kirana stores, apart from other retail formats selling red chilli powder, it is mandatory to do a complete quality check on the variety of chilli powder we use. The use of the carcinogenic dye in chilli powder made and sold in India is rampant. It is frightening to learn that some of the traders use the dye believing that it is a permitted "food...