Fast food vendors in Bengaluru saw a massive decline in sales of Gobi Manchurian across the city after the blanket ban on the food coloring chemical Rhodamine-B (Rh B) on March 11th.
Decline in Gobi Manchurian Sales
According to Hans India’s report, Gobi Manchurian saw a decline of 80 percent in sales due to its original color without coloring agent Rh B.
Food vendor Rajesh said, “People do not want to eat Gobi Manchurian anymore because it does not look the same without the coloring agent in it. Earlier, I used to make at least ₹10,000 a day, but now, making ₹5,000 is a big task. There is no proper return on investment.”
Ban on Rhodamine-B in Karnataka
On March 11th, the Karnataka government imposed a ban on a coloring agent, Rhodamine B.
“We have done a special drive on the gobi manchurian dish and found that harmful Rhodamine-B is being used to make the dish. It is a health-hazardous coloring agent, and we decided to ban it from usage,” said Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.
He added that strict actions will be taken if sellers are found using Rh B chemical in their restaurants. Violation will lead to up to seven years of prison and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh.
What is Rhodamine B?
Rh B is a bright pink coloring agent used in the cosmetic industry and it is used for food coloring as it is cheap. The powder of Rh B is green in color, although when added to water it turns pink.
It is hazardous, can negatively impact the human body, and is even toxic for plants and animals. When it enters the body it causes oxidative stress on cells and tissues which causes damage and death of specialised cells in cerebellum and brainstem tissue.
According to the US National Library of Medicine, long-time use of Rh B in food can lead to liver dysfunction or cancer. It can also cause acute poisoning if exposed to large amounts over a short period.
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