Why Karnataka is cracking down on vendors of pani puri and gobi manchurian

Action after complaints

Srinivas K, Commissioner of Karnataka’s Food Safety and Standards Commisssionerate, said they had received multiple complaints of vomiting, diarrhoea, and other health complications after consuming certain food items.

As a result, the department decided to take action against the use of artificial colouring agents. Since March, it has issued three orders banning the use of such agents in food items such as gobi manchurian, cotton candy, and chicken kababs.

The latest ban came earlier in July after the department found carcinogenic agents (they can potentially cause cancer) and bacteria harmful to human health in the samples of pani puri and shawarma.

Harmful colouring agents

The samples tested by the food safety department revealed that the food items contained artificial colouring agents such as Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow, Rhodamine B, and Brilliant Blue. These agents can cause cancer or lead to diabetes, kidney failure, and other complications, according to food safety department officials. In fact, Rhodamine B — used to give a red colour — is generally used as a synthetic dye to add colour to a wide range of materials such as textiles. Exposure to the dye may damage the eye and irritate the respiratory tract.

Legal action against FBOs

To take legal action against an FBO selling unsafe food items, the food safety department has to collect two kinds of samples — a survey sample and a legal sample. It first collects and tests a survey sample from an FBO. If this sample is found to be unsafe, four more samples (known as legal samples) are collected from the FBO concerned, and then sent to Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) for further testing. If the CFTRI report also deems the sample unfit for human consumption, the FBO is booked under the Food Safety Act.

The FBO is tried at a court of Judicial Magistrate of First Class (JMFC). If the FBO is found guilty, a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh and imprisonment for seven years can be awarded.

So far, 284 FOBs in Karnataka for selling unsafe food items under the Food Safety Act.