Sago (Sabudhana) Safety Inspection
Detect bleaching agents, talcum powder, and starches in Sago Pearls
Inspection Guide
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Sago (Sabudhana) Purity Checklist
Sago is often adulterated with bleaching chemicals, powders, and cheap starches.
1. The Burn Test: Burn a few sago pearls on a spoon. Pure sago swells and burns completely, leaving almost zero ash. Adulterated sago will leave a significant amount of grey/white ash (talc/sand).
2. Water Integrity Test: Soak sago in water. Pure pearls stay intact and the water remains mostly clear. Adulterated sago often disintegrates or turns the water milky/colored immediately.
3. Chew Test: Chew a raw pearl. Pure sago is smooth and starchy. A gritty or sandy crunch indicates adulteration with talcum powder or fine sand.
4. Whitening Agent Check: Observe the color change during soaking. Sago treated with heavy bleaching agents (like acids) may have an unnaturally brilliant white shine and can release a sharp, acrid smell when first wet.
Quick Safety Tips
- Perform the burn test - pure sago leaves no ash
- Check for grit or sand when chewing a sample
- Avoid unnaturally "brilliant white" sago with a chemical smell
- Ensure pearls do not instantly disintegrate in water
What CANNOT be Verified (Lab-Only)
Invisible Risks (Lab-Only):
* Sulfuric Acid Residue: Industrial acids used for cleaning require pH testing and sulfate analysis.
* Bleaching Byproducts: Chlorinated compounds from high-strength bleaches require laboratory quantification.
Chemical Concerns
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