Adulteration – Definition & Meaning

Adulteration is a term that is commonly used in various fields such as food, medicine and manufacturing. It refers to the practice of adding harmful substances or inferior materials to a product in order to increase its quantity or improve its appearance. The act of adulteration is considered illegal and unethical, as it can have serious consequences on the health and well-being of consumers.

Definitions

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), adulteration is defined as the addition of substances to a product that are not intended to be part of it. This can include the addition of substances that are harmful or toxic, as well as those that are not harmful but are added to increase the quantity or improve the appearance of the product.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines adulteration as the addition of any substance to a food or drug that may render it injurious to health, or the subtraction or substitution of any component of a food or drug that may affect its quality or strength.

Origin

The practice of adulteration can be traced back to ancient times, when merchants would add inferior materials to their products in order to increase their profits. In medieval Europe, the adulteration of food and drink was a common practice, with merchants adding everything from sawdust to chalk to bread in order to bulk it up.

In modern times, adulteration is still a common practice, with unscrupulous manufacturers adding everything from lead to melamine to their products in order to increase their profits.

Meaning in different dictionaries

The term adulteration is defined in different ways in different dictionaries. For example, the Oxford English Dictionary defines it as the act of making something impure or inferior by adding extraneous, improper, or inferior ingredients, while Merriam-Webster defines it as the act of corrupting something by adding something harmful or undesirable.

Associations

Adulteration is often associated with the food and drug industries, where it can have serious consequences on the health and well-being of consumers. It is also associated with the manufacturing industry, where it can lead to the production of inferior goods that may not meet safety standards.

Synonyms

Some synonyms of adulteration include contamination, pollution, tainting, and debasement.

Antonyms

Antonyms of adulteration include purification, refinement, and cleansing.

The same root words

The word adulteration comes from the Latin word adulterare, which means to corrupt or falsify. Other words that share this root include adultery, which refers to the act of being unfaithful to one’s spouse, and adulterate, which means to make something impure or inferior by adding extraneous, improper, or inferior ingredients.

Example Sentences

1. The company was fined for adulteration of its products with harmful substances.
2. The government has strict laws against the adulteration of food and drugs.
3. The quality of the product was compromised due to the adulteration of its ingredients.
4. Consumers should be aware of the possibility of adulteration when purchasing products from unregulated sources.
5. The company’s reputation was damaged due to the discovery of adulteration in its products.