Love to binge on pani puri? Beware, eating pani puri laden with artificial colours may increase your risk of various cancers and asthma amongst a host of other health issues, according to an expert on Tuesday. Based on several complaints, Food Safety officials in Karnataka collected about 260 samples from roadside stalls. Of these, 22 per cent pani puris failed miserably at quality tests.
About 41 samples contained artificial colours and cancer-causing agents, while 18 were found stale and unfit for human consumption. This comes after Karnataka’s Food Safety and Standards Department in late June passed an order imposing a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh and punishment from seven years up to life imprisonment for using artificial colours in chicken kebabs, fish, and vegetable dishes across the state. In March, Karnataka also banned the use of Rhodamine-B, an artificial colouring agent used in gobi manchurian and cotton candy.
“Use of an excess amount of artificial food colours and flavouring agents to make the dish look more appealing and increase palatability carries various health risks, especially in those who frequently indulge in outside food,” Edwina Raj, Head of Services - Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, told IANS. “Excessive exposure to such synthetic elements in food increases the risk of cancer, and disturbs gut health by increasing inflammation,” she added. The expert noted that it can also result in hyperactivity in children, aller.
