Cotton candy banned in some Indian states

India Some states in the U.S. have banned cotton candy, while others are working to address concerns that the artificial colors used in the candy popular with children. Cancer Contains the substance that causes

The southern state of Tamil Nadu last week banned the sale of cotton candy after laboratory tests revealed it contained the cancer-causing substance rhodamine B.

In South India, the government of Puducherry, another federal unit, has also banned this candy popular among children, while other states are preparing to conduct tests of these candies.

Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramaniam said in a statement last week that laboratory tests have revealed the presence of Rhodamine B, which is added to the candy as an artificial coloring agent.

He said that according to the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the candy has been confirmed to be ‘substandard’ and ‘unsafe’.

Rhodamine B has been linked to an increased risk of cancer and its use in food products is banned in Europe and California.

P. Satish Kumar, an officer of the Food Safety Department in Chennai, told the English newspaper The Hindu: ‘It (rhodamine B) is used in leather dyes as well as paper dyes, but it cannot be used for food coloring and it have immediate and long-term health risks.’

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Tamil Nadu’s neighboring state Andhra Pradesh and Delhi are also considering banning cotton candy to protect public health.

Andhra Pradesh’s Food Safety Commissioner said earlier this week that samples of these candies have been collected for testing and a decision on the ban will be taken after the results of these tests.

An order issued this month by the office of Puducherry Lt. Governor Tamilisai Sundararajan said that those who have obtained a quality certificate from the Food Safety Department can continue selling cotton candy.

Those who do not have the quality certificate can immediately approach the Food Safety Department to get it and start selling cotton candy, the statement added. The sooner they get food safety certification, the faster they can start their business. Until then, the sale of cotton candy is banned.’

In a video appeal to the people, Lt. Governor Tamilisai Sundararajan added: ‘We have directed the officials to inspect the shops that are selling cotton candy and if the cotton candy is found to contain this poisonous substance. So they will be confiscated.’

According to the National Library of Medicine’s website, rhodamine B use can lead to oxidative stress, injury, cell apoptosis and increases in brain stem cells. It added that ‘Rhodamine B in food can cause liver damage or cancer over a long period of time and can be toxic when taken in high doses over a short period of time.’

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