On one side, a set of market players are promoting organic and healthy foods, and then there is one section that keeps amplifying adulterated, chemical-loaded, and dangerous fake foods. Amidst all this, it’s the consumer who is at risk and it seems to be a never-ending market play. According to latest reports, the Delhi Police Crime Branch seized more than 1 lakh counterfeit ENO antacid sachets and 50,000 fake Nescafé coffee sachets in a major crackdown. Scroll down to read the details.The report states that two illegal manufacturing units were busted during the operation, leading to the arrest of four accused. The Delhi Crime Branch Police shared the news in an X post, mentioning they seized filling machines, raw materials and large quantities of packaging material used to replicate the original products. The recovered items indicate that the operation was run at scale, with the products likely intended for circulation in local markets.The post further mentions that the operation was led by Inspector Manjeet Kumar and Inspector Pradeep Singh under the supervision of ACP Swagat Patil Rajkumar. Overall supervision of the case was provided by DCP Rahool Alwal.
Market of fake coffee
The news of fake coffee is nothing new. In 2021, fake Nestle coffee was spotted in German markets. For India, counterfeit products were causing a dent of Rs 1 lakh crore in the local economy, creating an urge to flag fake products. Also, as per Reuters, the market for fake or adulterated coffee in India is a significant issue driven by high demand and rising prices. It is reported that in the international market, alternatives like soybeans, corn, and sometimes even dangerous substances are being used in coffee making. In India, ingredients like clay and chicory powder are used to meet the demand. For the uninitiated, chicory powder is made from the roasted and ground root of the Cichorium intybus, a flowering plant in the dandelion family. It has a slightly woody, nutty flavor with mild bitterness—often compared to coffee.
How to check purity of coffee
According to two videos issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), one can easily detect clay and chicory powder adulteration in coffee. Follow the steps.
For Clay
1. Take a glass of water.2. Add 1/2 tsp of coffee powder in the glass and wait for 5 minutes.3. The unadulterated coffee will have no sediment at the bottom of the glass.4. The adulterated coffee will have sediment at the bottom of the glass.
For Chicory Powder
1. Take a glass of water.2. Add 1/2 tsp of coffee powder in the glass and wait for 5 minutes.3. The unadulterated coffee will float on the surface and gradually dissolve.4. The adulterated coffee will float on the surface of the water with relatively faster dissolution.