Karnataka bans coloured gobi manchurian, cotton candy over health concerns

The Karnataka government has banned coloured gobi manchurian and cotton candy over health concerns, India Today reported on Monday. 

The Karnataka Health Department banned Rhodamine-B food colouring agent in cotton candy and gobi manchurian.

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced the ban and said, "If anyone is found using Rhodamine-B food colouring agent, then severe action will be taken against them under the Food Safety Act."

Rao said the department carried out a drive. Of 171 samples of gobi manchurian collected, 64 were found to be safe while as many as 106 were found to be unsafe. 

Meanwhile, a total of 25 cotton candy samples were collected, of which, 10 were found to be safe and 15 unsafe.

The quality of these food items across the southern state was poor because of the artificial colouring, the minister said.

Tartrazine, Carmoisine, Sunset Yellow and Rhodamine-1B were some of the artificial colours found to be used in the samples.