Fake garlic makes its way to Indian markets. 3 tips to identify

After fake paneer, butter and ORS, now markets are being bombarded with fake garlic. This comes after garlic prices surged from Rs 300 to Rs 350 per kg. The incident was reported by Subhash Patil, a retired police officer’s wife in Maharashtra. She told Zee 24 Taas how she bought 250 grams garlic from a local vendor, but it turned out to be made from cement when she tried peeling it. 

One should be aware while buying garlic from the market. Here are three easy ways to detect fake garlic from real ones.

How to detect fake garlic?

Check visually

When buying garlic, make sure you check it properly. Real garlic has irregularly shaped cloves with a thin, papery skin that peels easily. On the other hand, fake garlic has smooth cloves, and thicker skin that is hard to remove.

Smell your garlic

Before buying check the garlic smell. Real garlic has a strong, pungent odour whereas fake garlic lacks the smell and characteristic scent.

The float test

Real garlic feels dense and firm, and when placed in water, it sinks—unlike fake garlic, which may float due to its synthetic composition.

Health effects of eating fake garlic

Consuming fake garlic can cause many health risks as it contains synthetic materials or harmful chemicals that can lead to digestive issues, allergic reactions, or long-term toxicity. 

Having fake garlic also means that you are missing out on the natural health benefits of real garlic, like its immune-boosting properties and cardiovascular benefits.

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