Food colouring agents

March 13, 2024

The Karnataka government has banned use of food coloring agents in Gobi Manchurian and cotton candy across the state over health concerns, primarily because eateries use food colouring agents like Rhodamine-B and Carmoisine, which studies have shown to be toxic.
- Rhodamine B (RhB) is a chemical compound commonly employed in synthetic dyes for colouring silk, jute, leather, cotton, and wool, as well as in the cosmetics and plastics industries. Its low cost, however, also makes it a popular choice for food colouring.
Of the 171 samples collected from eateries across the state, 107 were prepared using unsafe chemicals like Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow, Rhodamine-B and Carmoisine.
The permitted synthetic colouring agents, as per FSSAI, are-
- Red – Ponceau 4R, Carmoisine, Erythrosine
- Yellow – Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow FCF
- Blue – Indigo Carmine, Brilliant Blue FCF
- Green – Fast Green FCF