Borax in brown sugar?
Many rumors are circulating about the presence of borax in food, one of which is brown sugar. The discovery of foodstuffs containing borax, including brown sugar, occurred in 2011 in the city of Jakarta. Borax is a sodium tetraborate (Na2B4O7.10H2O) that is toxic to the human body and causes death at concentrations of 200-15,000 mg/l (Flanega et al., 1995).

Why does the seller add borax to brown sugar?
Borax is thought to be added to brown sugar to increase brown sugar’s shelf life and texture because borax can inhibit the growth of microbes that will damage brown sugar.
How to know brown sugar contains borax or not?
1. Add alcohol and concentrated sulfuric acid, then burn the brown sugar. if ignited with ethanol a flame will form with a green edge, if the sample is positive using borax. Samples containing borax will show a green flame caused by the formation of methyl borate B(OCH3) or ethyl borate B(OC2H5)3 (Vogel, 1985).
The reaction that occurs is as follows: H3BO3+3CH3OH B(OCH3)3h +3H2O

2. Use the Borax Test Kit. The Borax Kit Test is a qualitative rapid test tool to detect borax content in food within 10 minutes with a detection sensitivity limit of 100 mg/kg (100 ppm).

Source:

Otik Nawansih, S. R. d. W. R. H., t.thn. SURVEY MUTU DAN KEAMANAN GULA MERAH DI PASAR. SURVEY MUTU DAN KEAMANAN GULA MERAH DI PASAR , pp. 1-15.

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