Saffron/ja: Difference between revisions

===Adulteration===

Despite attempts at quality control and standardisation, an extensive history of saffron [[adulteration]], particularly among the cheapest grades, continues into modern times. Adulteration was first documented in Europe's Middle Ages, when those found selling adulterated saffron in [[Nuremberg]] were executed under the ''Safranschou'' code. Typical methods include mixing in extraneous substances like [[beetroot]], [[pomegranate]] fibres, red-dyed silk fibres, or the saffron crocus's tasteless and odourless yellow stamens. Other methods included dousing saffron fibres with viscid substances like [[honey]] or vegetable oil to increase their weight. Powdered saffron is more prone to adulteration, with [[turmeric]], [[paprika]], and other powders used as diluting fillers. Adulteration can also consist of selling mislabelled mixes of different saffron grades. Thus, high-grade Kashmiri saffron is often sold and mixed with cheaper Iranian imports; these mixes are then marketed as pure Kashmiri saffron. [[Safflower]] is a common substitute sometimes sold as saffron. The spice is reportedly counterfeited with [[horse hair]], [[corn silk]], or shredded paper. [[Tartrazine]] or [[sunset yellow]] dyes have been used to colour counterfeit powdered saffron.

In recent years, saffron adulterated with the colouring extract of [[gardenia]] fruits has been detected in the European market. This form of fraud is difficult to detect due to the presence of [[flavonoids]] and [[crocin]]es in the gardenia-extracts similar to those naturally occurring in saffron. Detection methods have been developed by using [[HPLC]] and [[mass spectrometry]] to determine the presence of [[geniposide]], a compound present in the fruits of gardenia, but not in saffron.