Karnataka food and drugs authorities inspected 681 hotels, restaurants and street business points in the state and found at least 52 of them using plastic sheets while preparing (steaming) the idli.
“The use of plastic sheets for cooking is unsafe and harmful as the plastic sheets release chemicals in high temperatures which are carcinogenic. We have banned use of plastic for cooking and request the food entrepreneurs and food businesses to follow safe food practices,” said Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.
In February, 26 out of the 3,608 food items samples picked up for testing by food inspectors were declared as “unsafe” and 28 samples as “poor quality”. Of the 31 samples of fried green peas, 26 were found to be unsafe for human consumption as they had banned artificial colours.
Our Health Department has banned the use of plastic sheets for steaming idlis in hotels across Karnataka. Toxic chemicals from plastic can leach into food, posing serious health risks, including cancer.
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) February 28, 2025
Hotels must immediately stop using plastic & switch to safer alternatives… pic.twitter.com/30Noi8KNNG
“There is a need to create awareness and conduct frequent sample testing to ensure food safety. The food safety and surveillance measures are yielding results. After our crackdown on cake shops to check the use of harmful colouring agents last year, the menace has reduced.
“In August 2024, 12 out of 295 samples – which is 4.06 per cent were found to be unsafe. This year, the ratio has reduced to 1.16 per cent. This was possible by educating the bakery entrepreneurs on the use of natural or synthetic colours in the manufacture of snacks, including cakes, as per the Food Safety and Quality Act 2006 and the artificial colours approved by the Rule of 2011,” added Rao.
The food safety and drug administrative officers have also drawn attention to the dangers of getting a tattoo from unauthorised shops.
“We found that the Tattoo ink samples contained about 22 heavy metals (Selenium, Chromium, Platinum, Arsenic, etc.), which can be harmful to the body as it can cause skin disease, bacterial infection, viral infection, fungal infection, and other diseases. The tattoo inks are not covered under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) nor the Rules of Drugs and Cosmetics Act. We urge the Centre to formulate rules and standards,” said Rao.
