Methods for Targeted vs. Untargeted Detection of CDS Adulteration. Detecting the many different types of adulteration demands the use of orthogonal analytical methods. As the most commonly used, HPTLC and HPLC-UV/Vis can detect other Curcuma species and some of the colorants. The detection of lead chromate is challenging: it escapes routine testing methods due to its poor solubility in organic solvents and water, thus requiring targeted methods such as ICP-MS or flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India also proposed an ashing/sulfuric acid-diphenylcarbazide test as a rapid screening for the lead but required confirmation by quantitative assays to confirm the level of contamination. Admixture of starches to powdered turmeric is readily detected microscopic powder examination using iodine stain or a xylene mount with full polarization. In the protocol here, starches are recognized as insoluble residues of extraction. So far, the identification of undeclared synthetic curcumin has been achieved via MS experiments measuring the concentrations of C isotopes. While a strict proof remains difficult, the present 1 H NMR method strongly inferred adulteration with synthetic curcumin and mislabeling of the product as turmeric extract based on the lack of residually complex, natural curcuminoid patterns, as well as the presence of several % of unidentified aromatic impurities that can be assigned to synthetic reagents and/or by products. To date, 1 H NMR has not been widely explored as a means for quality control of turmeric-based ingredients. However, its untargeted capabilities position NMR uniquely to solve many of the quality issues related to turmeric, its extracts and CDS in general. Conceptually, NMR can readily detect admixtures of and substitution with other Curcuma species, especially when the sample size is sufficient to allow multivariate statistics. Organic impurities, such as Metanil yellow and Sudan dyes, can be identified by their characteristic signals between 7.0 and 8.5 ppm using 1 H NMR and were not detected in the investigated samples. As exemplified here, 1 H NMR can reveal a wealth of information about sample composition and, to some extent, the underlying manufacturing process by close examination (thus favoring the 100% qNMR approach) of the residual complexity of the sample. More Comprehensive Coverage of Adulterants. The present work introduces the combined use of two methods with "100% properties":