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A few decades ago, in times of scarcity, people could not even dream of such an abundance as they do now. A can of canned fish or peas, a stick of sausages were a real pride on the festive table. Now the stores are full of goods for every taste and budget. But in this abundance there is a big risk of running into a fake. When buying products, people pay attention to the expiration date and price. Some read the composition. But even this will not save you from acquiring a counterfeit. By buying fake goods, you risk not only losing your money, but also harming your health. We have compiled for you a list of 10 products that are often counterfeited.
10 Eggs
Surprisingly, eggs can also be faked, which is what the Chinese are doing successfully. In appearance, such a product is indistinguishable from the original. Its composition is completely chemical. The shell is made from a mixture of calcium carbonate, gypsum and paraffin. Calcium alginate, gelatin and coloring pigments are components of the protein and yolk. Such an egg does not contain useful substances, moreover, with regular use, it will negatively affect the nervous system. Unfortunately, it will not work to distinguish it from the real one in the store. But at home you can verify the authenticity of the egg. A hard-boiled yolk turns blue after several hours of storage in the refrigerator. This will not happen with a fake. After some time, the protein and yolk of the counterfeit will merge into one mass, since the same material was used for their production. This is a very profitable business, one fake egg costs less than 25% of the price of a real one. You probably think that let the Chinese worry about this, but there are such products in Russia.
9. Honey
It doesn’t matter where you buy honey, they learned to fake it a long time ago. Even having bought it from a beekeeper, one cannot be completely sure of its authenticity. The product is expensive, and for the sake of money, many are ready for anything. Often, cheaper varieties or other products such as corn syrup and sugar are added to more expensive honey. Honey is heated, diluted, and last year’s honey is passed off as fresh. But this is not the worst. Such honey will not harm the body, unlike synthetic honey. There are many secrets that will allow you to recognize a fake, but most of them are for home decor. In the store or in the market, you can rely only on your knowledge. Therefore, before buying, take a little time and read how this or that honey should look like.
8. Olive oil
Olive oil is very often counterfeited, it is expensive and it is very difficult to distinguish a fake. This is used by unscrupulous manufacturers. Expensive oil is mixed with cheap, soy or peanut oil is added. Even worse if the oil contains flavorings and dyes. The chemical composition will definitely not bring any benefit. It is difficult to check a product for falsification; not all experts can determine its authenticity by eye. At home, you can put the bottle in the refrigerator. The thickening of the product after some time speaks of its quality. In addition, the oil ignites at temperatures above 240 degrees. When buying, pay attention to the cost, olive oil cannot be cheap.
7. Canned food
It is easy to fake canned food, the manufacturer knows this and often uses it. He is sure that the buyer is unlikely to be able to recognize expensive fish in a cheap one, especially in canned form. In addition, the standards allow some sorting. Often they put inexpensive ingredients: cereals, vegetables. Do not disdain and waste. Labeling will help you choose high-quality canned food. Each fish has its own assortment code. On a real product, the marking is embossed on the inside, on a fake one on the outside.
6. Cream
Most often on store shelves there is a substance similar to sour cream in taste and smell. Animal fats are replaced with vegetable ones, but such a product has nothing to do with sour cream. If it contains milk powder or reconstituted cream, it is not real sour cream. There is a danger in the market to buy a diluted product, add kefir or other cheap dairy products. For the density of sour cream, starch or harmful chemicals are used. Such a product can cause allergies and indigestion. Put a spoonful of sour cream into a glass of boiling water. If it dissolves completely, the product is natural. The fake will not dissolve, a precipitate will remain.
5. Crab sticks
The fact that there are no crabs in the composition of crab sticks is known to everyone. But not many people know that there is no fish there either. They are made from minced fish, which contains only 10% fish. The rest is waste and substances unknown to anyone. Other components of the composition are starch, dyes, preservatives. Crab sticks are also made from soybeans, tails and scales. Additives such as E450, E420 contribute to allergies and chronic diseases. Therefore, you don’t even have to think about how to choose high-quality crab sticks, they simply don’t exist. If you are thinking about health, just eliminate them from your diet.
4. Mineral water
Counterfeit mineral water occupies one fifth of the total share of the Russian market. Stavropol stamps are most often counterfeited. These are Essentuki, Smirnovskaya, Slavyanovskaya. Water is simply diluted with cheaper, sometimes even tap water. Then, by adding chemicals, the desired taste is achieved. The authenticity of mineral water can only be determined by analyzing its components. But in order to buy a quality product, you must comply with several conditions. First, buy only in trusted stores. Secondly, the source, indications for use, that is, all the necessary information, must be indicated on the bottle. Thirdly, the label must be even, the cork is tightly screwed.
3. Caviar
Caviar is often faked. It is expensive, and the taste of a fake is not easy to distinguish. Therefore, often the caviar of cheap fish is tinted and passed off as expensive. Instead of black, the buyer receives pike caviar, instead of flying fish – capelin caviar. Red caviar is made from gelatin. Vegetable oil, dyes, fish broth are added to it. Algae is used to make an imitation of caviar, it can also be passed off as a real one. To recognize genuine caviar, it is enough to squeeze the eggs. In a real one, they will burst, in a counterfeit, they will doubt. You can also identify a fake in appearance, but this is unlikely to be within the power of an ordinary buyer.
2. Whipped cream
Whipped cream is replaced with a mixture of coconut oil, corn syrup, various flavors and colors. Be careful when reading the ingredients. If vegetable fats are indicated in it, then they do not contain either milk or cream. Meanwhile, trans fats are very dangerous for the body. Usually cream manufacturers indicate “whipped cream” in the name. The buyer looks at the picture on the package and does not pay attention to the words. If you want to buy a natural product, be careful.
1. Smoked products
Smoking is a long process, it requires some experience and skill. Many manufacturers use “liquid smoke”. This carcinogen has already been banned in many countries around the world. If you go too far with it or use low-quality substitutes, you can get poisoned. To choose a quality product, carefully inspect it. Real smoked meats have the following features: even color without spots, dry surface. If there is an opportunity to cut fish or meat in a store, be sure to use it. A fake in the context will not stand out fat. Therefore, it is better to refuse such a purchase.