Craving pani puri? Cancer-causing chemicals found in samples in Karnataka [read now] [Video]

Love to binge on pani puri? Beware; eating pani puri laden with artificial colours may increase your risk of various cancers and asthma, amongst a host of other health issues, according to an expert on Tuesday.

Based on several complaints, Food Safety officials in Karnataka collected about 260 samples from roadside stalls. Of these, 22 percent pani puris failed miserably at quality tests. About 41 samples contained artificial colours and cancer-causing agents, while 18 were found stale and unfit for human consumption.

This comes after Karnataka’s Food Safety and Standards Department in late June passed an order imposing a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh and punishment from seven years up to life imprisonment for using artificial colours in chicken kebabs, fish, and vegetable dishes across the state.

In March, Karnataka also banned the use of Rhodamine-B, an artificial colouring agent used in gobi manchurian and cotton candy.

“Use of an excess …