1. S
cientists and researchers at the In-
dian Institute of Spices Research-
Kozhikode (IISR) have detected adul-
terationinspicesavailableinthedomestic
market using DNA barcoding. After a se-
ries of studies since 2010, IISR scientists
found that black pepper, chilli powder,
turmeric powder, cinnamon bark and
mace were adulterated using plant-based
adulterants.
“Of the five samples of nutmeg mace
collected from the local market in
Kozhikode, three were adulterated with
Bombay mace which is yellow in colour,
lacksaromaandisof inferiorqualityand
mainly used as a natural dye source. Mor-
phologicaldifferentiationmaybepossible
between the genuine and adulterant com-
modity in fresh or whole form. But dis-
crimination becomes difficult if the sam-
pledries,agesandispowderedastheylose
their characteristic morphological and
diagnostic features. Nutmeg mace also
turns yellow on ageing, fetching a premi-
um price and thus it becomes handy for
unscrupulous elements to adulterate the
genuine commodity with the spurious
one,” said Dr B Sasikumar, head of crop
improvementandbiotechnologydivision,
ICAR- IISR, Kozhikode.
When tested, three out of 10 turmeric
samplesanalysedwerefoundtobeadulter-
atedwithwildturmeric('manjakoova')or
fillerslikecassavastarch,wheatorbarley
powder. A similar analysis of nine brand-
edmarketsamplesof blackpepperpowder
has found out that two were adulterated
with chilli powder. At the same time, chil-
li powder sold in Kerala markets were
adulterated with powdered fruits of choti
ber. Regarding cinnamon bark, adultera-
tionof cassiawasfoundinsevenoutof 10
market samples.
Compared to other conventional ana-
lytical tools, DNA barcoding is a reliable
technologythatcanaccuratelydetectadul-
teration in spices. The technology uses
veryshortsequencesof DNAof anygiven
species to detect the purity of the sample.
“Othertechniquesusedforadulterantde-
tection of food and agricultural commod-
ities include physical methods, chemical
or biochemical methods and immunoas-
say. Although they are of considerable
value in certain instances, they are not
suitable for routine analyses,”he said.
A handy tool for scientists
Black pepper berries
(Piper nigrum)
Ginger
(Zingiber officinale)
Poppy seed
(Papavar somniferum)
Clove
(Syzygium
aromaticum) Ajowan
(Trachyspermum
ammi)
Chilli fruits
(Capsicum annuum)
Asafoetida
Turmeric powder
(Curcuma longa)
Nutmeg
(Myristica
fragrans) Allspice powder
(Pimenta dioica)
Fennel
(Foeniculum
vulgare)
Cinnamon bark
(Cinnamomum
verum)
Mustard
seed
Caraway
(caravum carvi)
Mace
(Myristica fragrans)
Vanilla
beans
Mineral oil
Dye- Metanil
Yellow,
Orange II lead
chromate
Chalk powder
Yellow soap
stone powder
Coal tar dyes
Gypsum
Red clay
Chalk
Dye- coal tar red,
sudan red, para red
Vanilyl- n-nonamide
Mineral oil
Talc powder
Brick powder
Salt powder
Dyes /
mineral
oil
Lime,
capsaicin
Exhausted
ginger
(volatile oil
extracted).
Exhausted or
partially exhausted
fennel fruits
Stem tissue and
stalks of fennel
Umbelliferous seeds
Rajeera seeds
(Amaranthus
paniculatas)
Dye
Dried papaya seed
(Carica papaya)
Wild piper Spp.
(P. attenuatum and P.
galeatum)
Fruits of Lantana camara
and Embelia ribes
Seeds of Mirabilis jalapa
Berries of Schinus molle
Exhausted black pepper
Light berries
Stems and chaff of black
pepper
Wild Curcuma spp-
C zedoaria Rosc or
‘yellow shotti’ syn.
C xanthorrhiza Roxb.
(‘Manjakua’) or C
malabarica
Starch from cheaper
source
Saw dust
Foreign resin- Gum
arabic, gum resin
colophony, galbanum,
moriacum, resin, rosin
Barley
Wheat or rice flour
Slices of potato
Bombay
mace
(Myristica
malabarica)
Macassar
mace
(M argentea)
Powdered
clove stem
Berries
of Myrtus
tobasco
and Lindera
benzoin
Cumin
Carum
bulbocastanum
Powdered
fruits of ‘Choti
ber’ (Ziziphus
nummularia)
Red beet pulp
Almond shell
dust
Extra amounts
of bleached
pericarp, seeds,
calyx, and
peduncle of chilli
Starch of cheap
origin
Tomato wastes
Lime
Capsicum,
grains of
paradise
Turmeric
Exhausted
ginger
fortified with
falvours
Japanese
ginger
(Zingiber
mioga)
Powdered papaya
seed
Wild piper berries
Lantana camara
Embelia ribes
Mirabilis jalapa seeds
Schinus molle berries
Exhausted black
pepper and light
berries
Starch from cheaper
source
Black pepper powder
Chilli
powder
Ginger
powder
Pieces of clay
for repairing
broken nutmeg
Earthy
materials
Magnesium
salt, sand,
earth
Wild species-
Macassar (Myristica
argentea), Bombay
nutmeg (M. malabarica)
and M. otoba
Exhausted
ajowan seeds
Excess stem
& chaff
Cassia
(Cinnamomum
cassia)
Exhausted
clove (volatile
oil extracted);
stem and
fruits of clove.
DNA Barcoding Is Gaining Acceptance
As A Tool For Food Authentication Over
Other DNA-Based Methods Due To Its
Reliability, Writes Shenoy Karun
The new DNA route
to clean your spices
Argemone seeds
(Argemone mexicana)
Rape seed
ragi
Added
starch
Turmeric
Mustard
seed
powder
Eugenol
Cylon oil
Yellow brown dye
Aromatized and
powdered beechnut
husk
Hazel nut
Almond shell dust
Cinnamon powder
ADULTERANT
Chemical/
earthy
material
Biological
material
Tonka beans (Dipteryx
odorata); Dipteryx
oppositifolia
Vanillon (Vanilla
pompona)
Little vanilla
(Selenipedium chica)
Leaves of orchid
Angreacum fragrans
and Orchis fusca
Ladie’s tresses
(spiranthes cernua);
‘Vanilla-plant’(Trilisa
odoratissima)
‘Herb vanilla’ (Nigritella
anguistifolia)
Common sweet clovers
(Melilotus spp.)
Synthetic
vanillin
Ethyl
vanillin
Veratraldehyde
Piperonal
Vanitrope
and
coumarin
Vanilla
extract
Saffron
(Crocus
sativus)
Different parts
of the saffron
flower itself
Poppy
Arnica
Onion
Dyed corn silk
Meat fibre
Red sandal
wood
Turmeric
powder
Paprika
powder
Synthetic
dyes- tartrazine
Ponceau 2R
Sunset yellow
Amaranth
Orange GG
Methyl orange
Eosin and
Erythrosine
Honey
Glycerine solutions
of potassium or
Ammonium nitrate
Sodium sulphate
Cassia bark
(Cinnamomum
cassia)
Star anise
(Illicium verum)
European
dill
Bark of
Cinnamomum
japonicum, C.
Mairei, C.
Burmannii
Indian
dill
Terpenes
Onion
seeds
Nigella seeds
(Nigella sativa)
Illicium
anisatum fruit
Illicium anisatum
powder
Star anise
powder
Fine earth
materials
Aniseed
Cardamom
seeds
Hemlock
fruit
Parsley
Dill fruit
Seeds of Amomum
aromaticum
A. subalatum and
A. cardamomum
Cardamom
seed powder
Powdered
cardamom
hulls
Graphic: Karthic R
Cost of adulterant
detection using DNA
barcoding may come to
`3,000 - `4,000 per sample
DNA barcoding technology uses
very short sequences of DNA of any
given species (plants or animals)
to detect the purity of the sample
HOW SAFE IS
YOUR SPICE?
(Source: Current Trends
in Biotechnology and
Pharmacy)
CHASING VICTORY Jipson Sikhera
OUT OF LIMITS: Players in action during the Ernakulam sub-district senior boys Kho-Kho final match
against ACS Higher Secondary School and Model Technical Higher Secondary School, Kaloor, at St
Antony's School ground in Kochi on Tuesday. ACS won the match
Kochi: In major haul, the
policeandtheexcisedepart-
ment seized explosives and
ganja from Pooppali near
Perumbavoor on Tuesday.
Mahinsha(46)of Manga-
laseri Sha Manzil in Perum-
bavoor has been
arrested in con-
nection with the
seizure.
Police said
that 6,400 gelatine sticks
and100cigarettesfilledwith
ganjawereseizedintheope-
ration.
The accused had posses-
sed 250g ganja separately.
“The accused stocked
the explosive to sell the
same at higher rates for pro-
fit. He had been peddling
ganja too,” said a police offi-
cer.
Mahinsha was taken in-
to custody based on a tip-off
received by excise officials.
The Perumbavoor police
will conduct a detailed pro-
be into the source of gelati-
ne sticks seized from the ac-
cused.
Man held for money
fraud:The Kalamassery po-
lice on Tuesday arrested a
West Bengal native for
transferring money from
the debit card of an Aluva
native into his online pay-
ment wallet.
Ahammed Riza (18) of
Deviganj in West Bengal
was arrested for transfer-
ring Rs10,000 from the debit
card of Nisab of Aluva, who
works in merchant navy.
The accused committed
the fraud while working in
thecashcounterof arestau-
rant near Edappally toll ga-
te.
“Nisab had given his de-
bit card for payment at the
restaurant. The accused
who worked at the cash co-
unter knew the password of
the card and transferred Rs
10,000 to ‘Paytm’ online pur-
chasewallet.Nisabreceived
an SMS regarding the trans-
fer based on which he filed a
complaint,” said a police of-
ficer.
The accused was produ-
ced before the court and re-
manded in judicial custody
for14 days.
Explosives, ganja seized
near Perumbavoor
TIMES NEWS NETWORK Police said that
6,400 gelatine sticks
and 100 cigarettes
filled with ganja
were seized in
the operation
Kochi: Even as the National
Green Tribunal (NGT) is ex-
pected to hear two different
batches of petition related
to Periyar pollution next
week, there is growing evi-
dence to support the de-
mand for an authority to
monitor and protect it.
A report submitted by
the Central Pollution Con-
trol Board (CPCB) before
the NGT on action to be un-
dertaken in the Eloor-
Edayar contaminated area,
says remediation measures
are being given utmost pri-
ority.
It says that multiple con-
taminants including DDT,
endosulphan, chloroben-
zenes and metals such as
manganese, vanadium, zinc
and chromium have been
found in soil, groundwater,
sediments and surface wa-
ter and that immediate re-
mediation measures must
be taken to rejuvenate the
water body.
The CPCB’s submission
came while the NGT was
hearing a case filed by local
residents seeking immedi-
ate action to restore the wa-
ter bodies of Periyar river.
Earlier, the Kerala State
Pollution Control Board
(KSPCB) had informed the
CPCB that creeks and water-
logged paddy fields in Eloor-
Edayar were contaminated
due to historical discharge
of wastewater and improp-
er handling and disposal of
hazardous waste by indus-
tries.
The four main industries
identified were Hindustan
Insecticides Ltd (HIL),
FACT, Merchem and Indian
Rare Earths (IRE).
A preliminary investiga-
tion of the Eloor area was
carried out in 2006 wherein
it was found that the soil and
sediments in Kuzhikandom
Thodu (creek) and the ad-
joining paddy fields are con-
taminated with DDT, BHC
and Endosulphan, the re-
port said.
The Kuzhikandom Tho-
du originates from HIL com-
pound and flows partly
through Merchem and HIL
premises and is fed by small-
er drains from IRE, FACT
and abandoned paddy
fields.
The creek after joining
Panachithodu is called as
Unthithodu, which meets
river Periyar.
Kuzhikandom Thodu
still receives treated waste-
water from HIL and other
industries. Preliminary
studies highlighted the
need to clean up the creek,
the industrial sites and pad-
dy fields, the report said.
Eloor-Edyaar site was se-
lected as one of the priority
sites in the country needing
remediation under a Na-
tional Clean Energy Fund
(NCEF) project to be execut-
ed by the CPCB. Central as-
sistance in this project is
limited to 40%, while 60% of
the cost is borne by the state
government by way of ‘pol-
luter pays’ principle.
The scope of work under
NCEF project is to carry out
detailed site investigations
in four contaminated areas -
‘Kuzhikandom Thodu’ and
paddy fields in Ammenthu-
ruth–Karipadam (Eloor)
and Edayattuchal and Chak-
karchal (Edayar).
The NGT is hearing a pet-
ition filed by local residents
demanding zero-discharge
by industries into the Peri-
yar.
Periyar Maleenikarana
Virudha Samithy (PMVS),
an NGO which is in the fore-
front of protests against the
pollution of the river has
sought a Clean Periyar,
Green Periyar action plan
on the lines of the Ganga Ac-
tion Plan.
"We want the centre to de-
clare a moratorium for new
chemical industries in
Eloor-Edayar industrial
belt," said Purushan Eloor,
research coordinator,
PMVS. The NGO has sub-
mitted a memorandum to
the water resources minis-
ter and environment minis-
ter seeking a plan of action
for Periyar.
"The government should
take immediate and con-
crete steps to clean up Kuz-
hikandam thodu, Panachi
thodu, Pallipuram Chal and
Unthithodu," he said.
CPCB report shows need for urgent actionSudha.Nambudiri
@timesgroup.com
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS
Multiple contaminants
including DDT, Endosulphan,
Chlorobenzenes and metals
(mainly Manganese, Vanadium,
Zinc and Chromium) found in
soil, groundwater, sediments
and surface water
Contamination limited to
swamps and areas along the
Kuzhikandom Thodu within the
industrial premises of HIL and
Merchem
Contamination mainly
dispersed through the
Kuzhikandom Thodu with
impacted surface waters and
sediment
There is limited or localized
contamination in paddy fields
Soil collected in IRE along
the swamp area had high
metal concentration, some of
which was seen in runoff water
at this location
Heavy metals were
identified exceeding Tier-1
screening levels within the
industrial premises, paddy
fields and off-site areas
Active contamination
in open drains due to
contaminated runoff
water/wastewater from
HIL and Merchem
WE WANT THE CENTRE TO DECLARE A MORATORIUM FOR NEW CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES IN
ELOOR-EDAYAR INDUSTRIAL BELT. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE CONCRETE STEPS TO
CLEAN UP KUZHIKANDAM THODU, PANACHI THODU, PALLIPURAM CHAL AND UNTHITHODU
– Purushan Eloor | RESEARCH COORDINATOR, PMVS
Kochi: The Eloor-Edayar in-
dustrialclusterissandwiched
between two local bodies, Ka-
dungalloor grama panchayat
and Eloor municipality. In-
dustries in the area are large-
ly concentrated on the banks
of riverPeriyar.
The cluster is home to
morethan280industrialunits
out of which 75 are in the red.
These industries draws about
1.89 lakh cubic meter water
daily from Periyar and dis-
charges into it about 75% of
the used water, which is treat-
ed, untreated and partially
treated. The discreet dis-
charge of trade effluents and
wastes in slurry form into Pe-
riyarhasturnedtheriverinto
an illegal ‘Treatment Storage
and Disposal Facility (TSDF)’
the Supreme Court Monitor-
ing Committee on hazardous
wasteshadobserved.
Most of the industries in
Eloor-Edayar industrial clus-
ter are located on the eastern
and western banks of the riv-
er in the Eloor stretch. Illegal
discharge from industries
and massive fish kill is a fre-
quent phenomenon down-
streamof riverPeriyar.
75% of waste
water released
back into river
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
SAVING PERIYAR
TIMES CITYTHE TIMES OF INDIA, KOCHI | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
NO CHANGE IN GOVT STAND ON ADMISSIONS TO
SELF-FINANCING MED COLLEGES, SAYS MIN | P4
A K ANTONY URGES MODI TO SEND AN ALL-PARTY
DELEGATION TO KASHMIR TO RESOLVE CRISIS | P5