Artificial colours back in snacks

COIMBATORE: Do not trust the Murukku, Omapudi and boondi that sport a bright yellow color. The Food Safety Department has found at least four samples of South Indian savouries collected from bakeries and restaurants in the district to be 'unsafe' and 'not conforming to food safety standards'. However, many restaurants and sweet shop manufacturers say they find it hard to convince their customers about food safety.

The samples found unsafe include a packet of potato chips in a bakery in Annur area, a few Murukkus from a leading bakery chain in the city, Bhajji Bonda served at a shop in Pollachi and some savouries from another bakery on Mettupalayam Road. "All of them were found adding artificial colour to their food," said R Kathiravan, designated food safety officer. "We have issued notices to all of them and have filed a case too," he said.

The Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 clearly states that 'unsafe food' is an article in which there is 'presence of any colouring matter or preservatives other than that specified for its category' or if the 'article is being coloured to make it appear better than it really is'. "This point was included in the Act because long-term consumption of such artificial colours is harmful to health, because they often contain colours made of chemicals," said Kathiravan. While colour is permitted to be added to ice-creams, lolly pops, jelly crystal and North Indian sweets, it is banned in South Indian sweets and savouries. "However, in some cases, approved artificial colour is allowed," he clarified.

Though food makers admit that colours do not play a part in the taste, they find it hard to change the public's mindset. "They are used to seeing specific foods in specific colours," said Vivekanand Natraj of Moti Mahal Delux. "So we have tried to work around this by using Kashmiri Chilli which gives the red colour but is not as spicy as our local chillies. We use beetroot to add colour to vinegar soaked onion, so the difference is just 10%," he said. "Even after all this we have irate customers upset over the colour of food served or purchased," said a staff member at Nellai Muthu Vilas Sweets.