Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian has banned the production and sale of cotton candy in the state (panju mittai) after a lab test confirmed the presence of cancer-causing chemicals. The Food Analysis Laboratory collected samples from several beaches and other areas in Chennai.
The test found Rhodamine-B, as an artificial colouring agent, in various samples of cotton candy and other coloured sweets, terming them unsafe and substandard for consumption.
The minister noted that with the presence of Rhodamine-B, the state bans the sale of cotton candy and makes it punishable under the Food Safety and Standards Act, of 2006.
He said that the use of Rhodamine-B as a food additive in manufacturing, packaging, import, sale of food, or serving food containing it at weddings and other public events would be punishable under the Act mentioned above.
He also added that the Commissioner of Food Safety has directed the personnel to take strict action as per the Act.
Further, directives are issued to conduct ‘thorough inspections’ and take ‘strict actions’ against violators. Before Tamil Nadu, the Union territory of Puducherry banned the sale and production of cotton candy.
HEALTH CONCERNS
P. Satheesh Kumar, designated officer, Food Safety Department said that Rhodamine-B is a dye that have industrial uses. “It is used in leather colouring as well as paper printing. It cannot be used for food colouring, and has immediate and long-term health hazards,” quoted The Hindu as saying Kumar.
Kumar also confirmed that consumption can cause fullness of the stomach, itching and breathing problems, adding that if consumed for long duration, the dye can stay upto for 60 days and if not excreted, it can get deposited in kidney, liver and intensine. Kumar said that long consumption can disprut kidney function and cause irrevisble damage.
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