Recently, Karnataka Food Safety and Quality Department has detected cancer-causing agents in the cakes in Bengaluru. The department has issued a critical warning as it has detected carcinogenic ingredients in the cakes prepared by bakeries in the state.
The Karnataka Food Safety and Quality Department examined 235 samples of cakes all across the State and found carcinogenic ingredients that can lead to cancer in 12 of the samples.
According to the report, the use of artificial colours in the cake such as Allura Red, Sunset Yellow FCF, Ponso 4R, Tartrazine, and Carmoisine can cause serious health risks. These artificial colours are used in the making of red velvet cake, black forest cake, and more.
The Food Safety Commissioner Srinivas K. has ordered the bakeries to not use any kind of harmful chemical and artificial colours in the cake. He stated, “Tests conducted on 235 samples of cakes from several bakeries across the State have revealed that 12 different varieties contain cancer-causing agents. The 12 samples have revealed the presence of artificial colours such as Allura Red, Sunset Yellow FCF, Ponceau 4R, Tartrazine, and Carmoisine in more than the prescribed limits.”
Previously, the Food Safety Department had banned artificial colours usage in the fast food items like gobi manchurian, kebabs, and pani puri sauces. The department had examined a total of 221 samples of paneer and khova, which was collected from all across the state. Unfortunately, one sample from each of these dairy products was of low quality. This degradation in the quality of ingredients have raised concerns and has left the public worried.
Dinesh Gundu Rao, the Health Minister has said that all the bakeries and other outlets that are using harmful colouring agents and additives will have to stop using them.
He stated that the use of such additives is strictly not allowed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products, Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 because these additives can cause serious health risks to the consumers and he warned these outlets saying that strict action will be taken against the outlets who will no follow the rules.