Why govts. are seeing red on Rhodamine B in street food

• Tamil Nadu banned the sale of cotton candy or candy floss after analysis confirmed the presence of Rhodamine-B, an industrial dye, in samples lifted from stalls in Chennai.

Key Highlights

• Rhodamine-B is a textile dye, and its use in food has a huge impact on health.
• Rhodamine-B is a fluorescent dye used in cosmetics, textile and leather industries.
• It gives brilliant pinks, greens and blues.
• Unfortunately, it is used as a food coloring agent not only in cotton candy but also in the preparation of sweets, various manchurian items and pakodas and in the preparation of sauces for Chinese food.
• Long-term consumption can cause allergies that can manifest in the form of irritation of the lip, tongue as well as eyes and also cause upper respiratory allergies
• Studies have shown that Rhodamine-B can cause cell death.
• It is not a food colour but is toxic to the human body and is a carcinogen.
• FSSAI has approved certain food colours and flavors as safe for consumption.
• These include: Caramel, Riboflavin (Lactoflavin), Saffron, Annatto, Curcumin (Turmeric), Carotene and carotenoids etc

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

• It is an autonomous statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act).
• The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is the administrative Ministry of FSSAI.

Function:

• Framing of regulations to lay down the standards and guidelines of food safety.
• Granting FSSAI food safety license and certification for food businesses.
• Laying down procedure and guidelines for laboratories in food businesses.

Prelims Takeaway

• Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act)
• Saffron