Hoteliers’ association calls for ban on using liquid nitrogen in paan

BENGALURU: The Bangalore Hoteliers’ Association has taken a significant step to ban the use of liquid nitrogen-infused paan in the city. It has also called for a completely ban the use of liquid nitrogen in hotel foods.

The decision was taken after a 12-year-old girl in Bengaluru lost her life after consuming a liquid nitrogen-infused paan at a wedding reception and later developed a hole in her stomach. A detailed report regarding this was also telecasted on Public TV, besides bringing the issue matter to the attention of the hoteliers’ association.

Following the report, the Bangalore Hoteliers’ Association held a meeting of owners of all the hotels in the city and discussed banning paans containing liquid nitrogen. A letter was also written to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding the issue.

Virendra N Kamath, secretary of the Bruhat Bengaluru Hotels Association, said they hotel association decided to ban liquid nitrogen-infused paan completely after a girl died from it. In addition, it has appealed to FSSAI and the hotelliers’ association to seek action at the government level.

Besides, the association has issued a directive to all hotels and paan peeda stalls not to use liquid nitrogen in smokey paan. If continue to sell it, it has been decided to penalise or cancel the licence of such hotels. Liquid-nitrogen infused paan is being used more and more during big parties in Bengaluru.

A letter has been written to Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao that the government should consider this seriously and ban it completely.