Fake silver leaf on festival sweets can harm kidneys and liver; how to spot the real thing

With only a few days left for Diwali, the festival mood has gripped the state and the country. Sweets are being made at home, and markets are stocked with all kinds of mithai. Silver or gold leaf is put on kaju katli, kesar peda and many other sweets. The leaf makes a sweet look more beautiful and attractive, and a gleaming sweet makes everyone's mouth water. But is the silver leaf on sweets really good for the body? This question may have crossed your mind too.

During the festival season, sweets and other desserts sold in the market are adulterated on a large scale. Prices are raised, yet adulterated goods are still handed over. In many places, sweets are sold with adulterated and fake leaf instead of real silver leaf. Such adulterated leaf is considered poison for the body. It is therefore essential to be fully careful when buying sweets during the festival, or one can be cheated.

Aluminium is mixed in under the name of silver. Sweets and other sugary items are bought in large quantities during festivals. In the race to make more profit, leaf made from aluminium or other cheap and harmful metals is used in place of silver. Eating such adulterated leaf carries a higher risk of serious effects on vital organs. The health of the kidneys and liver is affected, and several changes begin to show in the body. If aluminium or an adulterated metal stays in the body for a long time, it can cause stomach ailments and nervous system disorders, and toxic elements keep accumulating in the body. Full care should therefore be taken when buying any sweet.

So what should one check when buying sweets? Rub the leaf on a sweet lightly with a finger. If it is real silver leaf, it will immediately stick to the finger like powder. If it is aluminium or some other metal, it will break up and feel rough to the touch.

Another method is to take a small piece of the leaf and burn it. Real silver leaf shrinks when burnt and forms a small ball. Aluminium or adulterated leaf leaves black or brown ash after burning. Fake leaf is white and hurts the eyes like a needle, whereas real silver leaf looks slightly soft and gentle. Keep these points in mind when buying any sweet at the market.

This article is for general information only and makes no claim of any treatment. Consult your doctor before trying any remedy.