Karnataka Bans Artificial Colors in Kebabs, Imposes Rs 10 Lakh Fine

Bengaluru: After 'Gobi Manchurian' and 'Cotton Candy', the Karnataka government has banned the use of artificial colors in the preparation of kebabs, including vegetarian, fish, chicken and others. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in Karnataka made this decision after discovering hazardous artificial colors in kebab samples that could pose significant health risks to consumers.

According to the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006, food vendors who violate this order could face up to seven years of imprisonment and fines reaching Rs 10 lakh.

Rule 59 of the Food Safety and Quality Act-2006 is punishable with imprisonment from 7 years to life term and a fine up to Rs 10 lakhs Penalty. It has been reported in the media and by the public that the quality of kebabs being sold across the state is poor due to artificial colouring, which is causing adverse effects on public health.

Against this backdrop, 39 samples of kebabs sold across the state were collected tested and analyzed in Karnataka laboratories, and the result was that sunset yellow and carmosine artificial colors are unsafe and hazardous to health, the release said.

Taking to X, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundurao wrote, “Considering the safety of our citizens, Karnataka Government has banned the usage of artificial colors in Veg, Chicken and Fish Kebabs. Recently, 39 samples of Kebabs were subjected to tests in the laboratory and 8 variants of kebabs were found to have harmful artificial colors (sunset yellow and carmoisine).  Artificial colors are harmful to the body and can cause adverse health effects.  The Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 Act prohibits the usage of harmful artificial colors. Food vendors violating the rule will be dealt with serious action including 7 years of jail time and a fine of up to Rs. 10 lakhs.”

Earlier in March, Gundurao banned the food colouring agent, Rhodamine-B which is widely used in dishes such as 'Gobi Manchurian' and cotton candy.

Addressing the rising concerns over the presence of harmful chemicals in various food items, the health minister said, “We have done a special drive on the gobi manchurian dish and found that harmful Rhodamine-B is being used to make the dish. It is a health-hazardous colouring agent.”

Pointing out the risks posed by unsafe food practices, Gundurao said, “Many samples were tested positive for Rhodamine-B. Tartrazine, Carmoisine and Sunset Yellow were some of the other artificial colours found in the samples.”

"Stringent action will be taken against restaurants that are found to be using such chemicals for food preparation," he said.