Food dept finds additives, colouring agents in honey

Kochi: How pure is the honey you consume? If you have no idea, the tests conducted at the regional analytical laboratory in Kakkanad showed that the product available in the market had colouring agents and additives. The presence of four colouring additives - tartrazine, sunset yellow, carmozine and ponceau 4R - were found in the sample that were collected by food safety officials from different shops in the city.

"The tests were conducted following complaints regarding the widespread use of colouring additives in honey. The adulteration was found in ATK Food Product with its address in Manickamangalam in Kalady. But we believe that the address is wrong. They might add colouring additives to sugar solution and sell it as cheruthen," said Shibu K V, assistant commissioner of food safety in Ernakulam. 

As per the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation 2011, adding colouring additives to honey is prohibited. The rule states that 'No person shall use the word honey or any word, mark, illustration or device on label of any food that resembles honey'. Shibu said food safety officials have been directed to collect samples of all brands of honey and test it in a laboratory.

"We have reported the details of the result with the Food Safety Commission that can issue a ban on the product state-wide," he said. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India allows synthetic colours up to 100 PPM (parts per million) in a single of combination of products such as bread, chocolates and biscuits.