Karnataka bans cancer-causing food colour used in cotton candy, gobi manchurian

Karnataka: Do you know that every child’s favourite treat cotton candy, and popular restaurant meal starter gobi manchurian have cancer-causing food colouring agents?

The Karnataka Health Department on Monday banned Rhodamine-B, the food colouring agent used in cotton candy and gobi manchurian. Eateries found making these two foods using the banned colouring agent will be strictly punished.

Karnataka health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said stringent action will be taken if sellers are found using these chemicals. The government ordered a crackdown on the preparation and sale of coloured cotton candy and artificially coloured gobi manchurian.

The government tested a few samples and found carcinogenic chemicals in the food items. Samples were collected from hotels and eateries.

Addressing the media, minister Dinesh said, “Out of the 171 Gobi samples, 107 samples tested positive for carcinogenic chemicals such as Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow, and Carmosine colours. Out of the 25 samples of cotton candy, 15 samples tested positive for artificial and cancer-causing chemicals like Tartrazine and Rhodamine-B.”

“We will take strict action on those who use these cancer-causing chemicals in the food. If this rule is violated by any vendors, eateries, and hotels/restaurants, they will have to face seven years to life imprisonment and up to Rs 10 lakhs as fine,” the minister added.

Last month, the Tamil Nadu government banned the production and sale of cotton candy and food items with colour additives due to the presence of a toxic textile dye, Rhodamine-B.

In February, a civic body in North Goa has banned the sale of the popular street food 'gobi manchurian' at roadside stalls in its jurisdiction after concerns were raised about the unhygienic conditions in which the dish was prepared, an official said. The municipal council of Mapusa town passed a resolution last week banning the dish from being sold by street food vendors, MMC chairperson Priya Mishal said.

"Vendors operate in unhygienic conditions and use synthetic colours