With the rise in food adulteration cases, it’s crucial to identify fake products in the market. Fortunately, you don’t need a lab for this—simple home tests can help. We came across dietitian Sonia Narang’s post on detecting adulteration in foods like black pepper, cloves, turmeric, honey, and eggs using water tests and sought verification from Dr. Sangeeta Tiwari, Clinical Nutritionist at Artemis Lite, NFC, New Delhi.

Black Peppercorns

Narang suggests putting black peppercorns in a glass of water. Genuine peppercorns sink, while adulterants might float. Dr. Tiwari agrees that true peppercorns generally sink due to their density but notes this test isn’t foolproof, as some adulterants may also sink or some peppercorns might float if they trap air.

Cloves

Drop cloves into a glass of water. Narang says pure cloves will float vertically or sink, while adulterated cloves may float horizontally due to added substances like artificial stems. Dr. Tiwari adds that cloves can both sink and float vertically, and floating horizontally isn’t a definitive sign of adulteration. Clove shape and trapped air can also influence buoyancy.

Turmeric

Add a pinch of turmeric to water and let it sit. Narang says pure turmeric will settle at the bottom, while synthetic colorants may dissolve. Dr. Tiwari agrees that pure turmeric powder typically settles at the bottom, making this a mostly reliable test.

Honey

Drop a spoonful of honey into water. Narang claims pure honey will settle at the bottom without dissolving quickly, while adulterated honey will dissolve or form layers. Dr. Tiwari suggests a more reliable test: the “thumb test.” Pure honey will hold its shape when rubbed between your thumb and forefinger.

Eggs

Place an egg in a cup of water. According to Narang, fresh eggs will sink and lie flat on the bottom, while older eggs will float due to larger air cells. Dr. Tiwari confirms that fresh eggs sink due to a small air cell, and as eggs age, the air cell grows, causing them to float. However, she notes that very cold water might make even fresh eggs float.

Milk

Mix 5 to 10 ml of milk with an equal amount of water and shake. Narang says if the milk is adulterated with detergent, it will form a dense lather, while pure milk will create only a thin foam layer. Dr. Tiwari adds that boiling the milk is a more reliable test. Pure milk will curdle, whereas milk with detergent might not.