Karnataka has taken a decisive step to safeguard public health by imposing a ban on the use of artificial food colors, including the notorious Rhodamine-B, in beloved treats like cotton candy and gobi manchurian. The state’s Health Minister, Dinesh Gundu Rao, announced the ban, citing alarming findings of poor quality and the adverse health effects associated with artificial food colors in these culinary delights across Karnataka.
The prohibition comes in response to alarming discoveries revealing the presence of cancer-causing chemicals such as Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow, and Carmosine in samples collected from various regions of Karnataka.
This ban specifically targets the production and sale of artificially colored food items, focusing on eliminating the use of harmful chemicals. The Health Department’s swift action follows laboratory results that exposed the prevalence of detrimental substances in a significant portion of tested samples. Out of 171 gobi samples examined, 107 were found to contain carcinogenic chemicals. Similarly, out of 25 cotton candy samples analyzed, 15 were tainted with artificial and cancer-causing substances.
Stringent penalties await those who flout the ban, including imprisonment for up to seven years, hefty fines amounting to ₹10 lakh, and the revocation of trade licenses for food vendors, eateries, and restaurants. However, vendors retain the option to sell cotton candies without artificial colors. This initiative aligns Karnataka with states like Tamil Nadu and Goa, which have also taken measures to restrict the sale of gobi manchurian and cotton candy due to health hazards associated with artificial food colors.
