Detection of possible adulteration in commercial ghee samples using low‐resolution gas chromatography triglyceride profiles

Abstract

Fifteen commercial and 22 control samples of ghee were analysed for triglyceride compositions by low-resolution short capillary column gas chromatography. Control samples of mixed milk and buffalo milks exhibited maxima at C38 and C50. The detection level was found to be 2% in case of beef tallow and coconut oil addition. Vegetable fat and lard addition could be detected at 5% and 6.3%, respectively. A sample survey based on triglyceride profile and standardised (S) values calculation revealed up to 43% branded ghee samples and 87.5% samples of unbranded ghee did not conform to triglyceride profiles of control ghee.

A distinction of cow and buffalo ghee using principal component analysis of triglyceride composition

“…2015). Findings akin to the present investigation that cow ghee contained a higher amount of TG C42 to C54 and buffalo ghee had more C26 to C36 were also reported earlier (Amrutha Kala 2013). However, based on simple descriptive statistics it was not possible to distinguish cow ghee from buffalo ghee.…”

A rapid reversed-phase thin layer chromatographic protocol for detection of adulteration in ghee (clarified milk fat) with vegetable oils

“…The techniques recommended for the detection of similar adulteration are either cumbersome or require sophisticated equipment like Gas Liquid chromatography, Differential Scanning Colorimetric, High performance liquid chromatography etc. (Patel and Frede 1991;Precht 1990Precht , 1992Coni et al 1994;Fontech et al 1998;Povolo et al 1999;Aktas and Kaya 2001;Arun et al 2005;Zachariah et al 2010;Kala 2013). Physicochemical parameters based methodologies developed so far have their own limitations in detecting the type and level of adulteration.…”

Assessment of ghee adulterated with oils and fats in Bangladesh

“…The mean acid value of the branded ghee varied from 0.55 ± 0.05 to 1.21 ± 0.07. For ghee, the acid value ranged from 0.0 to 1.0 [ 34 ]. Only sample B4 exceeded the range.…”