Adulterant

An adulterant is a substance that is used to adulterate something else, typically food, drink, or fuel. This usually involves adding an inferior or harmful substance to make a product appear better, increase its volume, or reduce its cost, often with deceptive intent. Adulterants can compromise product safety, nutritional value, or performance. Their presence is considered fraudulent and can have serious health or economic consequences, varying depending on the nature of the adulterant and the product affected. Identifying and preventing adulteration is a major focus for regulatory bodies.

Adulterant meaning with examples

• Food manufacturers were caught using a cheap, non-nutritious filler as an adulterant in infant formula, increasing profits at the expense of the babies' health. Parents were outraged. This fraudulent practice was quickly outlawed, demonstrating a failure to follow safety protocol and food standards.
• The investigation revealed that unscrupulous vendors added water as an adulterant to expensive olive oil to increase their sales. This was done to increase profits without lowering the selling price. This form of economic fraud deceived customers who were paying for a superior product.
• During the fuel crisis, a black market emerged where unscrupulous dealers sold gasoline with a kerosene adulterant. Car engines suffered damage, as the kerosene lowered the fuel's octane rating and lubricity. This caused engine damage and violated safety standards. The authorities had to quickly step in.
• Toxic melamine was used as an adulterant in pet food to boost the apparent protein content in order to fool quality control tests. Thousands of pets fell sick and many died as a result. This scandal led to stricter food safety regulations.