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Food Dyes Under Fire: UP Cracks Down on Unsafe Colors
18 Oct
Summary
- Uttar Pradesh FSDA targets unauthorized food coloring agents, including Rhodamine-B.
- Guidelines prohibit non-food colors and restrict approved synthetic colors.
- Businesses must use digital scales for precise colorant measurement or abstain.
The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has intensified its surveillance of food businesses, directing them to cease the use of unauthorized coloring agents. This initiative prohibits non-food colors, such as Rhodamine-B, and places strict limitations on approved synthetic colors, ensuring they are used only where permitted.
The department is paying special attention to vibrant food items like cotton candy, ice golas, chutneys, tandoori dishes, and brightly colored snacks. Food operators are now required to use digital weighing scales for precise measurement of colorants. Where accurate measurement is not feasible, the use of artificial colors is discouraged.
Street food vendors are advised to employ natural ingredients like tomatoes and beetroot for coloring chutneys. The use of industrial dyes for tandoori preparations and biryani is forbidden; permitted natural sources like Kashmiri red chilli and deggi mirch can be used within safety regulations.
Furthermore, the FSDA has identified several prohibited colors including Metanil Yellow and Sudan dyes, besides Rhodamine-B. Businesses must source colorants from authorized vendors, verify labels, and retain invoices for inspection. Violations risk penalties under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
