DFCO issues Public Notice regarding Food Colors

Srinagar, Aug 1: The Food and Drug Administration J&K today issued a public notice regarding popular food items sold in market, warning of presence of dangerous colors. Food business operators have been advised to desist from using such colors that pose a serious health risk to consumers.

The public notice reads, “Recent Analytical reports of National Food Laboratory, Ghaziabad , reveal that certain food samples of prepared food viz. Kabab, Biryani, Pickles ,and Chicken Tikka, have been found Unsafe due to the presence of synthetic food colours, like Carmoisine, Tartrazine, and Erythrosine”.

It adds that in terms of Regulation 3.1.2 and Appendix A of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, use of Synthetic food colours is prohibited in prepared food items such as Wazwan, Biryani, Pickles, and other meat-based preparations(ready-to-eat).The presence of such prohibited synthetic colours poses a serious risk to public health. In terms of Section 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act,2006,suchviolationsarepunishableand may attract Imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, and also with Fine which may extend up to `3,00,000(three lakhs).

All Food Business Operators (FBOs) engaged in the manufacture, preparation, processing, sale or service of ready-to-eat food items, especially meat-based products such as Kebabs, Wazwan, Biryani, Chicken Tikka, Pickles, etc, are advised to strictly avoid the use of synthetic food colours in any prepared food items, the Department has warned.

“This notice is being issued in the interest of public health and food safety. The cooperation of all stakeholders is solicited to ensure that only safe, wholesome food reaches the consumer.”