Moneycontrol News April 24, 2024
The Tamil Nadu and Puducherry governments have banned the sale of cotton candy, citing the presence of the carcinogen Rhodamine B.
The ban was prompted by the discovery of traces of Rhodamine B in cotton candy samples collected from Chennai's beaches.
The ban was prompted by the discovery of traces of Rhodamine B in cotton candy samples collected from Chennai's beaches, rendering the product "substandard and unsafe" under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Rhodamine B, a chemical commonly used as a textile dye, imparts a bright pink colour. It also has various biotechnology applications, such as tracing pollutants in water systems and indicating herbicide usage.
Rhodamine B, when dissolved in water, gives a bright pink colour, which is the colour of the quintessential Indian cotton candy.
While there are limited recorded cases of the chemical's effects on humans, animal experiments indicate potential fatal consequences with ingestion of less than 150 gm. Rhodamine B is classified as a carcinogen in California and the European Union.
“Animal experiments have found that the chemical is harmful to the cerebellum. Long-term consumption can lead to liver dysfunction or cancer, and acute ingestion may result in gastrointestinal side effects,” said Dr Arun B Shah, Director of Neurosciences, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital.
Doctors also say that people might not notice the effects of the chemical when it's eaten in small quantities. “The half-life of the chemical inside the human body is two to six months. So, it usually gets excreted without accumulating,” said Dr Azad Irani, Consultant, Neurology - Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai.
But long-term, regular consumption could be dangerous, Dr Azad Irani added.