UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 2
Consider the following pairs :
| Commonly used / consumed materials | Unwanted or controversial chemicals likely to be found in them |
|---|---|
| 1. Lipstick | Lead |
| 2. Soft drinks | Brominated vegetable oils |
| 3. Chinese fast food | Monosodium glutamate |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: D
Correct Option: D
Explanation: The three material–substance associations were documented: lead contamination in some cosmetics, brominated vegetable oil as a former soft-drink emulsifier, and monosodium glutamate as a flavour enhancer in some foods.
Statement/Pair-wise Analysis:
Pair 1: Correct - Some lipstick samples have contained traces of lead from pigments or other ingredients.
Pair 2: Correct - Brominated vegetable oil was used in certain citrus-flavoured soft drinks as a stabiliser; this refers to the exam-period context.
Pair 3: Correct - Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavour enhancer found in some Chinese-style processed/restaurant foods.
Option-wise Analysis:
A: Incorrect - omits correct pairs 2, 3.
B: Incorrect - omits correct pair 1.
C: Incorrect - omits correct pair 2.
D: Correct - includes all and only the true statements/items.
Review Note: These chemicals are not necessarily present in every product; legal restrictions on brominated vegetable oil have changed since 2017.