Abstract

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is widely used as a spice globally, in part, vulnerable to fraud due to its culinary and medicinal popularity. This study assessed the authenticity and associated fraud in turmeric powder from local markets in Yaoundé and Douala, Cameroon. Information on turmeric as well as knowledge on turmeric authenticity and fraud was gathered amongst turmeric sellers (through face-to-face) and consumers (through online) using structured questionnaires. Turmeric powder samples (N=103) were purchased from sellers (N=79) across local markets in Yaoundé and Douala. Authenticity assessment and fraud detection were performed using a microscopic and physicochemical techniques. Altogether, 79 sellers and 119 consumers responded to the questionnaires. The findings revealed that turmeric powder is mainly produced in the North West (55.7%), West (26.7%), Centre (24.05%), Littoral (1.26%) and South West (1.26%) regions in Cameroon. Most of the studied turmeric powder were “orangeyellow” to “golden-yellow” color (92%), while a few were dark brown (5.8%) or “whitish-yellow” (1.9%) color. Turmeric powder consumers (74.6%) and sellers (69.6%) suspected that turmeric powder sold in Yaoundé and Douala are potentially adulterated. Microscopic examination of turmeric powder starch granules revealed 93.2% (96/103 samples) compliance and 6.8% (7/103) non-compliance. One (1.03%, 1/103) turmeric powder sample was suspected to be adulterated with chalk powder and another one sample suspected for adulteration with meta nil yellow. Lead chromate and aniline dye were not detected in any sample. Although majority of the studied turmeric powder from local markets in Yaoundé and Douala were authentic, the 6.8% turmeric powder samples suspected as non-compliant and the 1.03% samples that contained illegally added chalk powder or met anil yellow may require further verification using sophisticated analytical techniques.

Keywords:Authenticity; Fraud detection; Adulteration; Turmeric powder; Sellers; Consumers; Yaounde; Douala