Caraway 293
The quality standards as prescribed by the American Spices Trade Association (ASTA)
and ISO are given in Table 15.5 and 15.6.
15.7.4 Adulteration
Caraway seed is available both whole or in ground form and is subjected to adulteration
by the addition of exhausted or spent seed (from which oil or oleoresins have been
extracted), excess stems, chaff and earth or dust. Caraway essential oil is also adulterated
with caraway chaff, caraway wild types and root oil. The range of caraway essential
oil is 2.5–5% and it should preferably contain limonene and carvone at an enantiomeric
ratio ranging between 0.75–1.00. If chaff oil is added than the enantiomeric ratio will
be more than 1.00, indicating the presence of more limonene and less carvone. The
ratio of limonene and carvone varies with variety and geographical location and
requires further study to standardize such quality parameters for judging the quality.
The oleoresin may be adulterated by added synthetic saturated acid. The detection of
these adulterants for oil and oleoresins can be done by using gas chromatography or
high performance liquid chromatography techniques. Adulterations at any level can
be detected by using the specifications as explained separately for whole seed, powdered
seed, essential oil and oleoresins.
15.8 References.......................................................................................
AFIFI, F.A. and HAFEZ, S.M. (1988), Effect of different plant extracts on the toxicity and behaviour of
Tyrophagus putrescentiae Schrank (Acacri: Acaridae). Annals of Agri. Science, Cairo. 33 (2):
1375–1385.
ANTONIUS, A.B. and HEGAZY, G. (1987), Feeding deterrent activities of certain botanical extracts
against the cotton leafworm, (Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.). Annals of Agric. Science, Ain
Shams University, 32 (1): 719–729.
ARGANOSA, G.C., SOSULSKI, F.W. and SLINKARD, A.E. (1998), Seed yields and essential oils of annual and
biennial caraway (Carum carvi L.) grown in western Canada. Journal of Herbs Spices and
Medicinal Plants. 6 (1): 9–17.
Table 15.5 Cleanliness specifications for caraway seed as per ASTA
Crop Whole Excreta, Excreta, Mould % Insect defiled/ Extraneous/
insects dead mammalian other by by weight infested % foreign matter %
by count by mg/lb mg/lb. by weight by weight
Caraway 4 3.00 10.00 1.00 1.00 0.50
seed
Source: Muggeridge et al., (2001).
Table 15.6 Quality standards for caraway seed as per ISO
Commodity Ash% w/w A/A% w/s H 2 O% W/W V/o % W/W
max. max. max. min.
Dutch caraway 8 1.5 13 2.5
seed
Source: Muggeridge et al., (2001).