Tumeric can have an adulteration problem. Here’s how to stay safe.

Tumeric is a highly prized spice, especially for Indian food. It’s also a potential nutriceutical.

The down side is that tumeric’s’s value for cuisine and health also make it a target for scammers — especially in Eastern Asia — who add lead chromate to brighten up substandard materials. And that often results in lead poisoning.

The problem is so acute that The Indian government has produced a video showing a quick and easy way to detect lead chromate adulteration.

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Our own tests

Following the Indian government’s example, we did our own testing of seven brands bought at local stores.

We put about 1/10 of a gram of tumeric from each package into 150 ml of water.

We stirred.

Then let things settle for 20 minutes. Everybody passed.