The Manipur health department has prohibited manufacture, distribution, import, storage, and sale of cotton candies, whether packaged or unpackaged, for a period of one year in the entire state of Manipur.
As per the latest notification issued by chief secretary (Health & FW)/Commissioner of Food Safety, Government of Manipur, Vineet Joshi on Monday stated that the prohibition is effective from the date of issue of the notification. It also warned that non-compliance with the notification will lead to a penalty up to Rs 2 lakh as per Section 58 of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006.
The move was taken following detection of Rhodamine B in cotton candies sold in the markets of the state as per the laboratory test report from FSSAI Notified Laboratory. The sample was declared unsafe under Section 3(1)(zz)(vii)(vii) of Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006.
It cautioned that ingestion of Rhodamine B is highly toxic and carcinogenic for humans and added that indiscriminate use of Rhodamine B in food preparation poses significant health risks to the consumers.
The prohibition was issued considering health concerns that may arise due to the consumption of cotton candies containing Rhodamine B by the general public particularly children, and in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (a) of sub section (2) of Section 30 of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006.
It mentioned that surveillance drives and sampling of cotton candies conducted in the markets of the State to check the presence of non-permitted synthetic colour, Rhodamine B in the food samples. It added that regulation 3.2.1 of the Food Safety & Standards (Food Products & Food Additives) Regulation, 2011 indicates the list of permitted synthetic food colours and their standards and stated that Rhodamine B is not included in the said list of permitted food colours.
The statement asserted that it is prudent to protect the health and safety of the general public and if consumption of the food article such as cotton candies containing non-permitted synthetic colours is allowed without prohibition, well-being of the present and future generations will be compromised.
It maintained that under the law and in the interest of public health, the Commissioner of Food Safety is responsible for prohibition in the interest of public health, the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of any article of food, which is unsafe and hazardous to health.
