Key Development

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has raised serious concerns over the alleged illegal use of Auramine — a carcinogenic industrial dye — in roasted chana and other food items. She has written to Union Health Minister JP Nadda seeking immediate intervention.

Violation of Food Safety Laws

In her letter, also sent to the Union Minister for Food Processing, she noted recent reports indicating that Auramine, typically used in textiles and leather, is being added to food products to enhance colour, violating the Food Safety and Standards Act. She said this issue poses a major risk to public health and reflects lapses in FSSAI’s regulatory oversight.

Health Risks and Regulatory Failures

Auramine is recognised by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) as a possible carcinogen linked to liver, kidney, and bladder cancers, along with neurological harm. Chaturvedi highlighted that despite these risks, adulteration continues due to weak market surveillance, inadequate testing, delayed warnings, and poor enforcement. She said insufficient compliance checks and lack of accountability have allowed this unsafe practice to persist.

Call for Nationwide Action

MP urged the Health Ministry to issue a national health alert and conduct nationwide testing of roasted chana and related foods to identify contaminated batches and sources. She also sought strict enforcement, including inspections, lab testing, licence cancellations, penalties, and criminal action. She recommended that state health departments conduct parallel testing and enforcement drives.

Need for Systemic Corrections

Chaturvedi also demanded an internal audit of FSSAI protocols to identify systemic gaps that enabled this violation. She emphasised that the use of carcinogenic dyes in food is a serious breach of public safety and called for urgent intervention to protect public health and restore trust in India’s food safety systems.

Source: The New Indian Express