Dangerous colours that allure

Bengaluru: Bengaluru has a huge number of residents who regularly have their food - whether it it breakfast, lunch or dinner - at the many eateries which dot the city. In their hurry to consume food and depart for their workplace or destinations, not many have the time to check if the food is coloured or safe enough.

They obviously have to be more vigilant. A troubling question has arisen after recent raids found that unpermitted colours were being used in a range of food items from kababs to the popular Gopi Manchurian: Is the food we consume really safe enough or could they pose health hazards? There is no doubt a lack of adequate public aware ness and concern when it comes to food consumption particularly among youngsters.

This is however not unique to Bengaluru and is witnessed in every city in India, big or small. So the Karnataka Health Department's decision to prohibit artificial colouring while permitting the serving of dishes like Gobi Manchurian and kebabs, was welcomed by health practitioners and civil society alike.

It however drew murmurs of dissatisfaction from Bengaluru restaurant owners, who argue that the decision was implemented without a consultative process. According to the government, food additives adhering to FSSAI Regula tions/ISI Standards can in corporate red, blue, green, and yellow colors within specified limits.

Anything in excess or abeyance of this is deemed illegal and unsafe for human consumption. What is of concern is that last year , among the 171 samples of Gobi Manchurian collected by food safety officials , 107 were found to contain unsafe artificial colours such as tartrazine, sunset yellow, and carmoisine.

Synthetic additives, often present in popular snacks and dishes, have the potential to disrupt bodily functions, say reports. Studies have shown that these additives could in duceallergic reactions, hyperactivity in children, and may even contribute to serious health issues such as cancer, cardiac issues, autoimmune diseases, renal damage, etc.and organ damage.

Colouring agents Sunset yellow, Brilliant Blue, Carmoisine, Rhodamine-B, Tartrazine, etc., are some of the hazardous artificial co louring agents in food that are banned in Karnataka by the government under provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006..

Earlier too, the Karnataka government had issued a warning to bakeries after carcinogenic ingredients were found in 12 of 235 samples of cakes tested across the state.