Bengaluru: The Karnataka Food Safety and Quality Department has raised alarms regarding the potential presence of cancer-causing ingredients in cakes sold by certain bakeries in the state. This warning comes just two months after similar concerns were voiced over carcinogens found in various street food samples, including kebabs, manchurian, and pani puri.
In August, the department analyzed 235 cake samples, discovering that 12 of them contained dangerously high levels of artificial coloring. While 223 samples were deemed safe, the use of artificial colors such as Allura Red, Sunset Yellow FCF, Ponceau 4R, Tartrazine, and Carmoisine raises significant health risks, including increased cancer risk when consumed in excess.
Experts have cautioned that popular cake varieties, like red velvet and black forest, often made with these vibrant colors, could pose serious health threats. The department has urged bakeries to comply with safety standards to protect consumer health.
Food safety campaigner Revant Himantsingka emphasized the uncertainty surrounding the amounts of these chemicals in food, stating that while many may be safe in tiny quantities, excessive usage can lead to health issues. He noted that artificial colors and preservatives are not only used in cakes but also in a wide range of packaged foods.
Mr. Himantsingka also highlighted concerns regarding titanium dioxide, a common additive in packaged food that is banned in Europe and some Middle Eastern countries, stressing the need for consumers to be vigilant about their food choices and for regulatory bodies to enhance enforcement measures.
Some bakeries whose products failed the safety tests have stated their intention to change the coloring agents and undergo resampling to ensure compliance with safety standards.
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