Since the quality of saffron is different and most people don’t know about it, it is better to first get acquainted with the basic methods of distinguishing original saffron from fake saffron. The methods of identifying different types of saffron are very simple. Like many other businesses, the saffron business faces the interference of profiteers. Therefore, distinguishing between genuine saffron and fake saffron is an issue that buyers should pay attention to when buying saffron. But what are the methods of distinguishing genuine and fake saffron? Even though Iran produces more than 90% of the world’s saffron, according to a report published in December 2018, one of the profit seekers’ methods for this product is to mix fake saffron with real saffron. And after packaging, they sell it in the market.
One of the easy ways to distinguish between genuine and fake products is to pay attention to the standards listed on the product packaging.
There are standards for food industry quality in the whole world; There are several standards for saffron. These saffron standards show that no foreign substances have been added to natural saffron. Therefore, one of the ways to ensure the quality of saffron is to check the standards. Therefore, it is better to avoid buying saffron that does not have the product standard on it.
Considering that every saffron-producing country has its own quality standard for saffron, you should know that Iran’s national standard number 1-259 and 2-259 is the reference for all saffron producers in Iran.
This standard is assigned for different categories of saffron to check aroma, taste and color, and all types of saffron are qualitatively evaluated with these standards. This standard also offers suggestions for things such as how to pack saffron.
Among the common frauds in saffron, the following can be mentioned:
Dyeing saffron cream with color extracted from stigma or other natural or artificial colors and mixing it with saffron.
Re-dyeing the spent saffron and using the stigma obtained from the flowers of other saffron species, which are usually shorter and do not contain compounds.
Increasing the weight of saffron by storing it in humid places or even spraying small particles of water and impregnating it with oil, honey, glycerin or solutions of potassium or ammonium nitrate, sugar, sodium sulfate.
Saffron, especially powdered saffron, is associated with more frauds. Because the profiteers add red soil to ground saffron to increase its weight.
The most important fraud that takes place is the use of the saffron plant, which is very similar to saffron.
But what is saffron?
Saffron is the most expensive spice and the most expensive agricultural product in the world. This strange and unique spice is almost as valuable as gold and that is why it is called red gold. Therefore, it is not surprising that there is much more fraud in saffron than in other food products.
Fraud in saffron is done in different ways, one of which is to use similar products or goods instead of saffron.
One of the alternatives to the original saffron is the saffron plant, or Indian saffron, which is known by its scientific name (Carthamus tinctorius), and some profiteers sell it because of its similar appearance with the addition of saffron aroma. The important thing is to pay attention to the real saffron, because it is part of the stigma of the saffron plant, it has strands that are wider at the end.