10 samples of sweetmeats sent for testing to detect colouring agents, carcinogens

BENGALURU: Ahead of the Ugadi festival, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) officials are on high alert about the qualit of sweetsmeats. People are already buying sweets for distribution, even as there are questions about their safety for consumption.

Complaints have been filed with the Food Safety Department regarding the use of colouring agents and excessive sugar in sweets like Mysorepak, kaju barfi, mixture, jalebi and jangri.

FSSAI officials have sent around 10 sweets samples for testing. The use of colouring agents and excessive sugar can cause cancer, diabetes apart from other health issues.

Some sweets contain sunset yellow, a colouring agent that can cause cancer. Others contain Rhodamine-B, a toxic substance that can affect health. Some sweets also contain carcinogens while excessive sugar in some sweets can cause diabetes. The oil used in cooking sweets may also not be safe for consumption.

Dr Kirti Kirisawe, a food expert said, “Use of sugar and colouring agents should be limited. Street vendors are using more sugar and artificial colours, and substitute for sugar. They use adulterated milk and khova to prepare some sweet items. When people eat them,  it will definitely affect their health. The colours used in sweets are more in terms of quantinty and it harms health. The calories are also high and people should avoid outside food to keep healthy. Do not go for dark-coloured food items like peas, mixture and others, use home made sweets”.