Food technologist and medical expert have expressed their growing concern regarding unchecked adulteration and growing use of synthetic colour dyes, unsafe for human consumption in food items available in the market.
Dr Abid Hasnain, chairman, Food Science and Technology Department, Karachi University, talking to APP, said cheap chemical substances being widely used as food colours is exposing public health to serious threat as these are carcinogenic in nature.
Referring to various studies undertaken by the department, he said most of the colours used in unbranded food products and also available as powder material to be consumed for domestic purpose has been found to be non-food grade synthetic textile dyes.
"These colours are not certified colours and are characterised as azo dyes", he said mentioning that these azo dyes are commonly used for textile dyeing across the country.
Asking for immediate ban on these colours extensively used in food preparations quite popular among locals as zarda (a rice made sweet dish) biryani and so forth, the scientist also referred to its application in extremely popular ice candies known as "Gola Ganda"
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