Editing Saffron (section)

===Adulteration===
Despite attempts at quality control and standardisation, an extensive history of saffron [[adulteration]], particularly among the cheapest grades, continues into modern times. Adulteration was first documented in Europe's Middle Ages, when those found selling adulterated saffron in [[Nuremberg]] were executed under the ''Safranschou'' code.{{Sfn|Willard|2002|pp=102–104}} Typical methods include mixing in extraneous substances like [[beetroot]], [[pomegranate]] fibres, red-dyed silk fibres, or the saffron crocus's tasteless and odourless yellow stamens. Other methods included dousing saffron fibres with viscid substances like [[honey]] or vegetable oil to increase their weight. Powdered saffron is more prone to adulteration, with [[turmeric]], [[paprika]], and other powders used as diluting fillers. Adulteration can also consist of selling mislabelled mixes of different saffron grades. Thus, high-grade Kashmiri saffron is often sold and mixed with cheaper Iranian imports; these mixes are then marketed as pure Kashmiri saffron.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/long-reads/kashmirs-saffron-harvest-sees-sharp-decline-4216123.html|title=Kashmir's saffron harvest sees sharp decline |website=Firstpost|date=18 November 2017 |access-date=1 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Rashid|first=Afshan|date=22 September 2018|title=From 35kgs earlier to 1kg yield now, 'successful' Saffron Mission paves way for apples in Pampore|url=https://freepresskashmir.news/2018/09/22/from-35kgs-earlier-to-1kg-yield-now-successful-saffron-mission-paves-way-for-apples-in-pampore/|access-date=1 January 2019|website=Free Press Kashmir|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=4 November 2003 |title=Kashmiri Saffron Producers See Red over Iranian Imports |publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|Australian Broadcasting Corp.]] |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/1504154 |access-date=29 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hussain |first=A. |date=28 January 2005 |title=Saffron Industry in Deep Distress |work=BBC News |location=London |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4216493.stm |access-date=15 September 2011}}</ref> [[Safflower]] is a common substitute sometimes sold as saffron. The spice is reportedly counterfeited with [[horse hair]], [[corn silk]], or shredded paper. [[Tartrazine]] or [[sunset yellow]] dyes have been used to colour counterfeit powdered saffron.<ref name=hooker/>

In recent years, saffron adulterated with the colouring extract of [[gardenia]] fruits has been detected in the European market. This form of fraud is difficult to detect due to the presence of [[flavonoids]] and [[crocin]]es in the gardenia-extracts similar to those naturally occurring in saffron. Detection methods have been developed by using [[HPLC]] and [[mass spectrometry]] to determine the presence of [[geniposide]], a compound present in the fruits of gardenia, but not in saffron.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Guijarro-Díez |first1=Miguel |last2=Castro-Puyana |first2=María |last3=Crego |first3=Antonio Luis |last4=Marina |first4=María Luisa |title=Detection of saffron adulteration with gardenia extracts through the determination of geniposide by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry |journal=Journal of Food Composition and Analysis |date=1 January 2017 |volume=55 |pages=30–37 |doi=10.1016/j.jfca.2016.11.004 }}</ref>