Karnataka government on Monday issued directives prohibiting the use of artificial coloring in kebabs made of vegetables, pork, and fish, following a prohibition on coloring agents in cotton candy and Gobi Manchurian.
Health department of Karnataka Government using Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006’s Rule 30(2)(a) forbids the use of artificial coloring while making vegetarian, chicken, fish, and other kebabs.
Considering the safety of our citizens, Karnataka Government has banned the usage of artificial colors in Veg, Chicken and Fish Kebabs.
Recently, 39 samples of Kebabs were subjected to tests in the laboratory and 8 variants of kebabs were found to have harmful artificial colors… pic.twitter.com/0N1EmVNQCM
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) June 24, 2024
Karnataka government claims that dangerous coloring compounds have been used excessively, necessitating the issuance of strict guidelines. Eight of the 39 kebab samples that were gathered and examined at state laboratories were found to be dangerous because they contained artificial coloring such as Carmoisine and Sunset Yellow, which is against the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.
fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Chapter 3 (Substances added to food).pdf
The Food Safety and Quality Act-2006’s Rule 59 carries a maximum punishment of ₹10 lakhs in addition to a prison sentence ranging from seven years to life.
The public and media have stated that artificial coloring is to blame for the poor quality of kebabs being sold around the state, which is having a negative impact on public health.
According to analysis findings, the artificial coloring present in eight kebab samples—seven of which contain Sunset Yellow and one that has both Sunset Yellow and Carmoisine—makes them dangerous.
Karnataka government, outlawed the food coloring Rhodamine-B in March. This coloring is commonly used in dishes like “Gobi Manchurian” and cotton candy.
Recent cases of food poisoning that have raised concerns for Karnataka Government:
- Belagavi Village Prasadam Incident: At the Bhireshwar and Karemma fair in Hoolikatti village, over fifty individuals in the Belagavi district were ill after taking prasadam, a religious offering. They mentioned experiencing symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Following brief medical attention, eight patients who had been admitted to the Dharwad hospital were declared safe. Karnataka Government is looking into whether the sickness was brought on by tainted water or prasadam.
- Yadgir Residential School Incident: After suffering from food poisoning, around fifty kids from a residential school in the Yadgir district were sent to the hospital. The scenario got even worse when they discovered a dead baby snake in their food.
- Hoskote Prasadam Incident: In Hoskote, Bengaluru Rural limits, a 60-year-old woman died, and at least 135 others were hospitalized due to suspected food poisoning after consuming prasadam.
Recent cases of cancer-causing chemicals in Indian food as found by Karnataka government
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European Union’s Findings: The European Union (EU) flagged 527 Indian food products for containing cancer-causing chemicals. These items exceeded safety limits for ethylene oxide, a chemical used as a pesticide and sterilizing agent.
- Spices and Brands: Renowned Indian spice brands like MDH and Everest were scrutinized for ethylene oxide traces. Hong Kong and Singapore had already banned these spices. Now, the EU has followed suit, emphasizing the contamination’s widespread nature.
- Safety Measures: Indian authorities are responding with quality checks and exploring safer sterilization methods, such as gamma ray treatment.
- Ethylene Oxide: This colorless gas is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It’s associated with causing Leukemia and Lymphoma.
- FSSAI’s Response: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) which is invoked by Karnataka Government, is taking proactive measures to address these concerns.
To report a food safety concern in India, follow these steps:
- Contact the FSSAI Helpline: Call the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) helpline at 1800-11-2100 or +91-11-23220991. They can guide you on the appropriate steps to take.
- State Food Safety Department: Reach out to your state’s food safety department. You can find their contact details on the official FSSAI website or through a quick online search.
- Online Complaint Portal:
- Visit the FSSAI’s Food Safety Complaints Portal.
- Fill in the necessary details, including the nature of the concern, product details, and your contact information.
- Submit the complaint.
- Local Health Authorities: If the issue is urgent, contact your local health authorities or municipal corporation.
- Kerala Food Poisoning Case:
- In Kerala, a nurse ordered food online from an eatery and subsequently fell ill. Sadly, she passed away due to food poisoning. Twenty-one others also fell ill after consuming food from the same place. The owner and cook were arrested, and charges of culpable homicide were invoked against them.
- This incident is part of a series of food poisoning cases in Kerala, raising concerns about restaurant food safety.
- FSSAI Prosecution Cases:
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has filed 1,411 prosecution cases against food business operators (FBOs) since April. These cases cover various violations, including operating without a license and selling unsafe food.
- Common Violations:
Over the last decade, Chennai has seen 94 criminal cases filed against eateries for violations. These include adulteration, misbranding, and substandard quality of various food items.
Mid-Day Meal-Related Food Poisoning:
In the past 13 years, approximately 9,646 cases of food poisoning related to mid-day meals have been reported in India. Some victims fell ill after consuming meals containing lizards, rats, snakes, or cockroach.
