(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) RHODAMINE B

(APRIL-2024)

The Karnataka government has declared that the use of dangerous colouring chemicals in well-known foods like cotton candy and Gobi Manchurian is prohibited.

The Tamil Nadu government recently enacted a ban on the production and sale of cotton candy within the state.
This action follows the discovery that some cotton candy manufacturers were utilizing Rhodamine-B, a chemical compound, in the production process.

Rhodamine-B is a water-soluble chemical that exhibits a green coloration in its powdered form.
Upon contact with water, it transforms into a vivid fluorescent pink.
These chemicals find common application as a coloring agent within the textile, paper, leather, and paint industries, specifically to achieve red and pink colours.

The Food Safety Standards Act of 2006 in India prohibits the preparation, packaging, import, sale, and service of food items containing Rhodamine-B, including at celebrations like weddings.
This industrial dye is considered toxic for human consumption globally.
Regular ingestion of food containing Rhodamine-B can lead to harm within the brain, particularly the cerebellum and brainstem, potentially causing functional impairments and motor skill difficulties.
The chemical can induce oxidative stress in human cells and tissues, posing a long-term threat of cancer and tumour development.