RHODAMINE
B – SCI & TECH
News:
Why governments are
seeing red with Rhodamine B
What's
in the news?
●
Tamil
Nadu banned the sale of cotton candy or candy floss
after analysis confirmed the presence of Rhodamine-B, an industrial dye, in
samples lifted from stalls in Chennai.
Key
takeaways:
●
Since then, the Karnataka Government has banned the use of harmful colouring agents
in cotton candy and “Gobi Manchurian”, while Andhra Pradesh has begun
lifting samples for analysis.
Rhodamine-B:
●
It is a water-soluble chemical compound.
●
While it appears green in powder form, it
turns vivid fluorescent pink when it comes in contact with water.
Applications:
●
It is a chemical commonly used for dyeing in the textile, paper, leather and
paints industry as a colouring agent that helps in attaining
the red and pink spectrum.
●
"As per the Food Safety Standards
Act, 2006, preparation, packaging, importing, selling and serving food items
with Rhodamine-B in wedding ceremonies and other public events is a punishable offence.
Toxic:
●
It is an industrial dye which is not allowed in food anywhere in the world
as it is toxic.
Health
Implications:
●
Researchers have identified that if food
containing this chemical is consumed regularly, it can cause damage to the cerebellum tissue in the
brain and to the brainstem that connects the brain to the spinal cord.
●
These damages can lead to functional
abnormalities and can hinder humans
motor functioning.
●
The chemical is toxic for humans and can
cause oxidative stress on cells and
tissues if ingested.
●
It becomes particularly hazardous when it
is mixed with food products, leading to cancer and tumour over time.