Plastic Banned in Eateries: Dinesh Gundu Rao

Bengaluru: The Health Department has banned the use of plastic in hotels and eateries across Karnataka. This comes after it was revealed that plastic sheets used to make idlis in some establishments can cause serious health issues, including cancer.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced the ban on Thursday, following lab reports confirming that approximately 51% of idli samples collected from various locations in Bengaluru were unsafe. The tests revealed the presence of carcinogenic substances linked to plastic use in food preparation.

“Hotels and roadside food stalls will no longer be allowed to use plastic covers. From now on, plastic should not be used in food preparation and distribution,” stated Gundu Rao.

Traditionally, cotton cloth was used in idli preparation. However, many eateries have switched to plastic, leading to the contamination of food with carcinogenic elements.

The ban follows warnings from experts about the dangers of using plastic sheets for steaming idlis. When exposed to heat, these plastic sheets release harmful substances that can contribute to cancer. The Health Department, taking cognizance of these warnings, collected and tested idli samples, with a significant number showing the presence of carcinogenic elements.