Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has issued a public notice banning the use of prohibited synthetic food colours in ready-to-eat dishes, including traditional Wazwan, biryani, pickles, and other meat-based preparations, warning of stringent penalties for violators.
Officials said recent analytical reports from the National Food Laboratory, Ghaziabad, found samples of kebab, biryani, pickles, and chicken tikka unsafe due to the presence of synthetic colours such as Carmoisine, Tartrazine, and Erythrosine, which pose serious health risks.
Under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, the use of synthetic food colours in such prepared items is strictly prohibited. Violations can lead to imprisonment of up to three months and fines of up to ₹3 lakh under Section 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The notice urged all food business operators — including manufacturers, processors, sellers, and service providers — to strictly avoid synthetic food colours in any ready-to-eat meat-based products. The government said the move aims to safeguard public health and ensure only safe, wholesome food reaches consumers.
