Recently Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Goa banned cotton candy due to the presence of harmful coloring agents. Now, Himachal Pradesh joined the list by banning the production, sale, and storage of cotton candy. This decision was taken after the samples collected from various districts of the state confirmed the presence of potentially hazardous coloring agents.
On 20 February 2024, the cotton candy samples were collected in Solan City, Himachal Pradesh. The samples were sent to the Composite Testing Laboratory in Kandaghat for testing, where it confirmed the presence of Rhodamine-B, a chemical agent.
Rhodamine-B is a chemical colouring agent, which is generally used as a dye. It is low-cost and used as a coloring agent in paper, textile, paints, and leather industries. It is also used in street foods like cotton candy and gobi manchurian to get bright colors.
According to FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India), the consumption of Rhodamine-B as food is not good for health due to the presence of probable health risks associated with their usage. The FSSAI permitted the usage of other artificial agents, but it particularly prohibited the usage of Rhodamine-B in food products. As per the Food Safety Act, the usage of this chemical in the preparation, processing, and distribution of food is punishable.
The samples were collected by Atul Kaistha, a food safety officer in the Municipal Corporation of Solan. He expressed that the samples were collected from various places in the city and they were sent to Kandaghat laboratory. He also said that the government prohibited the sale of cotton candy after the samples failed the tests.
The Himachal Pradesh’s Food Safety Commissioner and Health Secretary M Sudha Devi issued an order imposing a prohibition on the manufacturing, sale, and storage of cotton candy for a term of one year after the samples failed in the tests. As per section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety Act, the issued order bans the storage, distribution, or sale of cotton candy (going by whatever name) whether packaged or unpackaged for a term of one year under the law and interest of public health. The commissioner also informed that in the state, if anyone is seen executing the cotton candy business, they would face legal action according to the rules.
The Food Safety Commissioner said that the tested cotton candy samples uncovered that they contain banned, potentially harmful chemical agents, violating the provisions of the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006. The findings of unauthorized coloring agents in cotton candy create a significant risk to public health, especially the children, who are the major consumers of cotton candy.
In the issued order she said that if consumption of these food articles is permitted without prohibition the well-being of current and future generations will be compromised.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Lavanya Beeraboina/MSM)