Butyro-Refractometer (B.R.) reading linked with solvent fractionation technique as an aid to detect adulteration of palm olein and sheep body fat in ghee

Abstract

The present study aimed to detect sheep body fat and palm olein in milk fat. The B.R. readings for pure cow ghee ranged from 41.10 to 42.20 with an average of 41.57, whereas that for pure buffalo ghee ranged from 40.20 to 41.20 with an average of 40.72. Palm olein and sheep body fat added individually could not be detected even at 15 % levels in pooled cow and buffalo ghee samples. Mixture of palm olein and sheep body fat was detectable only at 9+21 (30) % levels. After fractionation however, lower levels 3+7 (10), and 6+14 (20) % were also detectable.