About Rhodamine B
Rhodamine B is a chemical dye mainly employed in the textile paper and leather industries because of its intense pink color and luminescence.
Its application in edible products is very dangerous. It has been found to cause DNA breakage mutations and even lead to cancer due to the results obtained in several researches.
Health Effects of Rhodamine B
- Cancerous Growths
- Animal studies show that prolonged exposure to Rhodamine B can result in tumor development in organs like the liver and bladder.
- Carcinogenic Properties
- The dye is classified as a carcinogen by health authorities with increasing evidence linking it to health risks particularly for children who are exposed to high levels in processed foods.
Global Regulatory Actions
- United States
- The FDA has prohibited Rhodamine B for use in food products since time immemorial because it is unsafe for human consumption.
- The 2025 FDA ban affirms the same this time pointing to children’s vulnerability in terms of dye exposure in items such as candies and baked goods.
- European Union
- The EU classifies Rhodamine B as a substance of very high concern also limiting its use in cosmetics and other consumer goods.
Rhodamine B in India Recent Concerns
- Illicit Use in Food
- Rhodamine B has been used illicitly to enhance the visible appeal of certain food products thus posing major risks to health.
New State Measures
- Tamil Nadu in Feb 2024
- Banned the sale of cotton candy after detecting Rhodamine B in samples. The state government emphasized that such products violate the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.
- Karnataka in Mar 2024
- Prohibited the use of Rhodamine B in street foods like Gobi Manchurian and cotton candy with penalties including imprisonment and fines.
- Puducherry and Himachal Pradesh
- Followed through with their implementation of bans for cotton candy etc. on selling food items so as not to harm the general health of the population.
The use of Synthetic Dyes
- Health Hazards
- Synthetic dyes such as Rhodamine B can stimulate DNA damage causing oxidative stress and enhancing tumor growth in animal models.
- Longterm exposure to unregulated products continues to be a cause for concern for vulnerable groups such as, children and the elderly.
- Dermatological Effects
- Synthetic dyes can cause allergic reactions such as itching redness and skin pigmentation changes Chronic exposure can lead to chronic skin reactions.
India’s Food Safety Ecosystem
- Lack of Research
- Priyadarshini Chidambaram a Community Health Specialist demands proactive research on the safety of food dyes in India and independent studies on the impact of synthetic additives on public health.
- FSSAI should be more proactive She feels that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
- FSSAI should also be more proactive in creating public awareness about consuming safe food and checking for hazardous additives.
