In a startling revelation, Doctors’ Association Kashmir has said that “poisonous industrial dyes” are being used in the popular multi-cuisine Kashmiri wazwan.
Disclosing the contents of a “investigation” conducted by it across Kashmir, DAK president Dr Nisar ul Hassan on Friday said, “Toxic crude dyes meant for colouring clothes are being used in the Kashmiri wazwan.”
He said that harmful synthetic non-permitted colouring agents “are commonly used to make the wazwan more tempting and colourful”.
“During its investigation, DAK found that acid orange, a poisonous industrial dye, is being used to turn the wazwan dishes reddish,” he said.
“The dye used in the wazwan is not meant for food. It is made for dyeing wool, silk and other animal and protein fibres. It is used in textile, paper, plastic and leather industry,” said Dr Nisar.
“Other dyes that find their way in the wazwan are ‘Orange Red’, ‘Sun Red’ and ‘Sun Yellow’.”
“These dyes contain cancer-causing chemicals,” said Dr Nisar adding that “research has shown these dyes can cause various types of cancers.”
He said in Kashmir as many as 26,214 cancer cases have been reported in the last seven years and these dyes could be one of the factors responsible for it.
Quoting two “ground breaking studies”, Dr Nisar said artificial colouring agents have been linked to behavioural problems in the children like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
“These synthetic colours have also been found can cause allergies, organ damage and birth defects,” he said.
The wazwan is an integral part of Kashmir culture, being served in almost all the weddings.
“Traditionally, the wazas (chefs) would use natural colours like sundried chillies and cockscomb flower for colouring. But nowadays, artificial colouring agents are increasingly used,” Dr Nisar said.
“The food safety and standards authority permits eight synthetic colours in specified foods at a uniform level of 100mg/kg, while the acceptable daily intake for food colours varies from 0.1 to 25 mg/kg body weight per day,” he said.
“Eight food colours permitted are Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow for yellow; Carmosine, Ponceau – 4R and Erithrosine for red; Brilliant Blue and Indigo Carmine for blue; and Fast Green for green,” he said.
“Though these food colours are allowed only in certain food groups, the wazwan not one among them, their use beyond a fixed level even in those permitted foods can prove carcinogenic,” he said.