Think Twice Before Having Cotton Candy; It May Contain Cancer Causing Chemical

Chennai: Cotton candy is loved by kids and elders alike.

But after what happened in Tamil Nadu, many might want to avoid it.

Samples of cotton candy, sent for testing by the Food Safety Department of Tamil Nadu government, were found to contain ‘cancer-causing’ Rhodamine B, informed Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian.

The government thereafter banned the sale and production of cotton candy in the state.

“As per the Food Safety Standards Act, 2006, preparation, packaging, importing, selling and serving food items with Rhodamine B in wedding ceremonies and other public events is a punishable offence,” the minister said in a statement.

Authorities are reviewing the matter after which strict action could be taken against violators.

Even Puducherry banned the sale of cotton candy last week due to the presence of Rhodamine-B in it.

What is Rhodamine B?

Rhodamine B is a water-soluble chemical compound which acts as a dye. Bright pink in colour, the chemical is toxic for humans and can result in oxidative stress on cells and tissues if ingested. Rhodamine B can be even more hazardous when it is mixed with food products, leading to cancer and tumour over time.