Table 4 List of foods with adulterants and the purpose perceived by participants

Fish, meat

Formalin, chemicals

To look fresh, improve appearance, and preserved for long run, sell rotten

36^a/IDIs & GD

Chicken

Spray in chicken with formalin, dead chicken

To keep it fresh for a loger duration, increase the quantity & maximize the profit

36^a/ IDIs & GD

Fruits –mango, apple, orange, grapes

Calcium carbide

To ripen fruits and looks fresh

36^a/ IDIs & GD

vegetables-carrots, beans, tomatoes, green bananas

Toxic substances, Calcium carbide

To keep fresh, maximize the profit, and for artificial ripening

36^a/ IDIs & GD

Milk-powdered milk

Formalin, melamine, textile dyes

To increase the quantity & maximize the profit

36^a/ IDIs & GD from IDIs & GD

Sweetmeats

Burnt engine oil, textile dyes

To enhance the color and looks attractive

36^a/ IDIs & GD

Rice

Toxic substances

To increase the color, quality

24^a/ IDIs & GD

Alum powder

To lengthen the storage period

12^a/ IDIs

Used wax to polish

To make grains appear whiter with a silky surface

12^a/ IDIs &

Urea

To make it whiter

24^a/ IDIs

Edible oil/cooking oil

Mustard oil

Mixed with palm oil, toxic substances

Chemicals

To improve moisture, Traders gain profit

12^a/ IDIs

Spices

Artificial colors, toxic substances

To improve the appearance and color

19^a/ customers IDIs & GD

Puffed rice (Muri)

Urea

To lengthen the storage period

14 IDIs & GD

Chili powder

Brick dust, Sudan red

To improve the appearance, color, and quality

14/ IDIs

Sauces, juices, and lentils

Various coloring agents, chemicals

To increase the color

12/IDIs

Turmeric powder

Metanil yellow powder

To improve the color of turmeric

12/ IDIs customers

Dry fish

Dichlorodiphenyl tricholoroethane (DDT)

To keep it fresh

4/ IDIs

Shrimp

Sold rotten

To increase the profit

17/IDIs