Turnip (Khol Khol) Safety Inspection

Turnips and Kohlrabi (Khol Khol) are sometimes rubbed with Malachite Green dye to look vibrant and fresh, hiding old, withered stock. 1. The Cotton Rub Test: Take a cotton ball soaked in liquid paraffin or water and rub the outer skin of the turnip vigorously. If the cotton turns green, it's a confirmed sign of Malachite Green, a toxic carcinogenic dye. 2. The Water Soak: Soak the whole turnip in a bowl of warm water for 15 minutes. Pure turnips won't color the water. If the water gets a green tint, it indicates artificial coloring. 3. The Texture Check: Naturally fresh turnips are firm and heavy. If the turnip feels light or spongy despite the bright green skin, suspect it is old stock "refreshed" with dyes. 4. The Root Integrity: Examine where the leaves were trimmed. If the trimmed area is bright green instead of pale/white, it shows the dye has soaked into the trimmed wounds.