The Karnataka government, led by Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Food Safety Commissioner Srinivas, has taken a firm stance to tackle the health hazards associated with street food consumption in the state. Highlighting the imperative to prioritize public health and safety, the authorities announced a ban on coloured cotton candy due to the unlawful use of artificial colours to achieve a pink hue. Violations of this directive will lead to the revocation of licenses under existing laws. Additionally, while Gobi Manchurian remains permissible, the government has prohibited the use of artificial colours in its preparation. Any establishment found guilty of adulteration faces severe penalties, including fines of up to 10 lakhs and imprisonment.
The decision to impose restrictions on street food stems from alarming findings revealed by health officials after conducting rigorous testing on samples collected from various restaurant hotels. Analysis of Gobi Manchurian samples uncovered the presence of harmful chemicals like tartrazine, sunset yellow, and carmosine, while cotton candy samples were found to contain tartrazine, sunset yellow, and rhodamine B. These artificial colours pose significant health risks, prompting concerns from the minister regarding the widespread consumption of street food. He emphasized the detrimental impact of such food items on public health, citing excessive levels of salt and fat commonly found in street food, exacerbating existing health issues.
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