The Karnataka government has banned artificial colors in chicken kebabs and fish dishes. This decision came after quality checks on random samples showed that artificial colors made the food substandard.

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said the ban was ordered to protect public health.

He instructed the Commissioner of the Food Safety Department to investigate and address the harmful effects of artificial colors in food.

#BREAKING#Karnataka Restaurants found adding artificial colours in food to be fined upto 10 lakhs or 7 years in prison!

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After banning artificial colours in Gobi Manchurian & Sugar Candy, health minister @dineshgrao bans use of artificial colors in Chicken Kebabs & Fish Dishes… pic.twitter.com/SsgYPOPvF4

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Earlier, the state food and safety quality department collected and analyzed 39 kebab samples in state laboratories. They found eight of these samples unsafe to eat because they contained artificial colors, specifically sunset yellow and carmoisine.

Violating the ban will lead to at least seven years in prison, possibly a life term, and a fine of Rs 10 lakh. Additionally, the food outlet’s license will be canceled.

The samples were deemed unsafe under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. According to the 2011 Food Safety and Standards regulations, using any artificial colors is prohibited.

This decision follows the state government’s earlier ban on artificial colors in Gobi Manchurian and cotton candy, implemented months ago.

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