What is food adulteration?
A) Preserving food
B) Coloring food
C) Adding harmful substances to food ✅
D) Cooking food Explanation: Food adulteration is the practice of adding inferior or harmful substances to food.
Which chemical is used to adulterate milk by increasing its thickness?
A) Chalk
B) Starch ✅
C) Urea
D) Salt Explanation: Starch is added to mimic creaminess and thickness in milk.
Which harmful substance is often added to chili powder as an adulterant?
A) Brick powder ✅
B) Sugar
C) Pepper
D) Chalk powder Explanation: Brick powder is used to increase weight and mimic chili’s color.
Which of the following is a common adulterant in turmeric powder?
A) Lead chromate ✅
B) Chalk powder
C) Salt
D) Yellow oxide Explanation: Lead chromate enhances color but is toxic.
Which act governs food safety and standards in India?
A) FERA
B) FSSAI Act ✅
C) IPC
D) Consumer Act Explanation: FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) regulates food quality.
Which adulterant is commonly found in pulses to give them a bright yellow color?
A) Urea
B) Lead chromate
C) Metanil yellow ✅
D) Chalk powder Explanation: Metanil yellow is a non-permitted food dye and is toxic.
What is added to increase the quantity of wheat flour?
A) Starch
B) Maida
C) Chalk powder ✅
D) Urea Explanation: Chalk powder increases weight and volume fraudulently.
Which test is used to detect starch in milk?
A) Iodine test ✅
B) Flame test
C) Litmus test
D) Alcohol test Explanation: Iodine turns blue-black in the presence of starch.
Which substance is added to ice to make it appear clean and white?
A) Bleaching powder ✅
B) Salt
C) Sugar
D) Detergent Explanation: Bleaching powder gives ice a cleaner appearance but is harmful.
What is a common adulterant in tea leaves?
A) Tamarind
B) Iron fillings
C) Used tea leaves colored with graphite ✅
D) Salt Explanation: Used leaves are colored and reused to deceive consumers.
What is added to honey to increase its volume?
A) Water
B) Sugar syrup ✅
C) Jaggery
D) Ghee Explanation: Sugar syrup increases volume and mimics the viscosity of pure honey.
Adulteration in food causes:
A) Better taste
B) No health impact
C) Harmful health effects ✅
D) Longer shelf life Explanation: Adulterants can be toxic and cause serious health issues.
Which of the following is NOT an adulterant?
A) Chalk powder
B) Salt
C) Sand
D) Vinegar ✅ Explanation: Vinegar is a safe food ingredient, not an adulterant.
Adulterated mustard seeds may contain:
A) Argemone seeds ✅
B) Tamarind seeds
C) Poppy seeds
D) Flax seeds Explanation: Argemone seeds resemble mustard and are highly toxic.
Which organ is primarily affected by food adulterants like lead?
A) Heart
B) Liver
C) Kidneys ✅
D) Lungs Explanation: Heavy metals damage the kidneys and nervous system.
Who is responsible for checking food adulteration in India?
A) WHO
B) BIS
C) FSSAI ✅
D) AIIMS Explanation: FSSAI ensures food safety and standard compliance.
Adulterated ice with non-potable water may cause:
A) Typhoid ✅
B) Flu
C) Obesity
D) Anemia Explanation: Contaminated ice can harbor typhoid-causing bacteria.
Which test is used to detect metanil yellow in turmeric?
A) Iodine test
B) Alcohol and HCl test ✅
C) Flame test
D) Sodium test Explanation: Metanil yellow turns pink when treated with alcohol and HCl.
Which test helps detect soap in ghee?
A) Litmus test ✅
B) Iodine test
C) Alcohol test
D) Water test Explanation: Litmus paper turns red to blue if soap is present.
Adulterated food is:
A) Hygienic
B) Legal
C) Unsafe ✅
D) Nutritious Explanation: Adulterated food can pose serious health hazards.
🟡 Moderate Level (21–40)
Which test detects iron filings in tea leaves?
A) Alcohol test
B) Water float test
C) Magnet test ✅
D) Flame test Explanation: Iron filings stick to a magnet.
Argemone oil is hazardous because it causes:
A) Diabetes
B) Epidemic dropsy ✅
C) Hypertension
D) Arthritis Explanation: Consumption can lead to swelling, glaucoma, and even death.
The presence of urea in milk can be tested using:
A) Litmus test
B) Iodine test
C) DMAB (para-dimethylamino benzaldehyde) test ✅
D) Benedict’s test Explanation: DMAB reacts with urea to give a yellow color.
Which of the following is a metallic adulterant?
A) Sand
B) Lead ✅
C) Soap
D) Brick powder Explanation: Lead is a toxic heavy metal used illegally for color enhancement.
What is a health effect of consuming food adulterated with metanil yellow?
A) Improves eyesight
B) Causes cancer ✅
C) Increases weight
D) Enhances memory Explanation: Metanil yellow is carcinogenic.
Lead chromate affects which body part most severely?
A) Lungs
B) Brain ✅
C) Skin
D) Stomach Explanation: It affects the nervous system and may cause developmental issues.
Test to detect brick powder in chili powder:
A) Oil test
B) Water sedimentation test ✅
C) Flame test
D) Vinegar test Explanation: Brick powder settles at the bottom in water.
Consumption of adulterated khoya may cause:
A) Fever
B) Asthma
C) Food poisoning ✅
D) Obesity Explanation: Adulterants like starch or vanaspati can be contaminated.
Which is not a permitted food color?
A) Tartrazine
B) Sunset yellow
C) Metanil yellow ✅
D) Brilliant blue Explanation: Metanil yellow is not permitted for food use.
Why are pulses adulterated with kesari dal?
A) Cost reduction ✅
B) Improved taste
C) Enhanced nutrition
D) Color enhancement Explanation: Kesari dal is cheaper and increases quantity.
The addition of soap in ghee is done to:
A) Increase taste
B) Mimic frothing ✅
C) Increase color
D) Preserve it Explanation: Soap increases froth, faking purity in ghee.
Synthetic milk is made using:
A) Detergents ✅
B) Salt
C) Sugar
D) Fat Explanation: Detergents mimic milk’s appearance and emulsify fats.
The test for adulteration of water in milk:
A) Alcohol test
B) Freezing point depression ✅
C) Iodine test
D) Boiling test Explanation: Pure milk has a specific freezing point that shifts with water.
What is the main concern with artificial sweeteners as adulterants?
A) Carcinogenicity ✅
B) High cost
C) Weight loss
D) Vitamin deficiency Explanation: Some are linked to cancer in long-term use.
The harmful effect of consuming synthetic milk is:
A) Enhanced immunity
B) Liver failure ✅
C) Increased hemoglobin
D) Improved digestion Explanation: Synthetic ingredients damage vital organs like liver and kidneys.
Food adulteration is a punishable offense under:
A) Indian Penal Code
B) Food Safety and Standards Act ✅
C) Consumer Protection Act
D) Civil Law Explanation: FSSAI legally enforces penalties for food adulteration.
Natural contamination of food occurs due to:
A) Pesticides
B) Improper cooking
C) Presence of mycotoxins ✅
D) Air pollution Explanation: Mycotoxins like aflatoxins are produced by fungi.
Pesticide residues in vegetables are considered:
A) Preservatives
B) Adulterants ✅
C) Flavor enhancers
D) Additives Explanation: Pesticide residues are harmful and unauthorized contaminants.
Food adulteration affects which age group most?
A) Teenagers
B) Elderly
C) Infants ✅
D) Adults Explanation: Infants are more vulnerable due to lower immunity.
Which of these food items is often adulterated with paraffin wax?
A) Apples ✅
B) Eggs
C) Spinach
D) Lentils Explanation: Wax is applied to fruits for artificial shine.
🔴 Hard Level (41–50)
How does iodine detect starch in milk?
A) Turns red
B) Produces froth
C) Turns blue-black ✅
D) No change Explanation: Iodine reacts with starch to produce a blue-black complex.
Which test is used for detection of adulterants in jaggery?
A) Lime water test ✅
B) Water test
C) Flame test
D) Alcohol test Explanation: Lime water turns milky if washing soda is present.
Which laboratory technique is used to detect non-visible adulterants?
A) TLC ✅
B) pH test
C) Filtration
D) Freezing Explanation: Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) helps identify complex adulterants.
Hydrochloric acid reacts with chalk powder to release:
A) CO₂ gas ✅
B) O₂
C) NO₂
D) H₂ Explanation: CO₂ bubbles indicate the presence of chalk adulteration.
Which of these is a carcinogenic adulterant?
A) Sugar syrup
B) Metanil yellow ✅
C) Chalk powder
D) Salt Explanation: Metanil yellow is linked to cancer in lab studies.
Which act replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA), 1954?
A) Essential Commodities Act
B) FSSAI Act, 2006 ✅
C) Food Control Act
D) Trade Practices Act Explanation: FSSAI unified food safety regulations under one law.
Why are detergents added to synthetic milk?
A) Flavor
B) Emulsification of fat ✅
C) Preservative
D) Aroma Explanation: Detergents help in stabilizing fat and mimic natural milk.
Which natural toxin can contaminate groundnuts?
A) Aflatoxin ✅
B) Formalin
C) Arsenic
D) Lead Explanation: Aflatoxins are carcinogenic and produced by mold.
Coloring used in pulses may contain:
A) Sulfates
B) Metanil yellow ✅
C) Nitric acid
D) Naphthalene Explanation: Non-permitted dyes like metanil yellow are used to enhance color.
Which test confirms presence of argemone oil in mustard oil?
A) Nitric acid test ✅
B) Iodine test
C) Benedict’s test
D) Methylene blue test Explanation: Argemone oil turns reddish-brown with nitric acid.