Cancer-Causing Chemical in 12 Bakery Cakes; Karnataka Govt Issues Warning

After the discovery of cancer-causing ingredients in 12 cake samples, the Karnataka government issued an advisory about the potential health risks associated with the popular dessert.

Karnataka has already banned the use of artificial food colours, including Rhodamine-B, in cotton candy and gobi manchurian due to their health hazards.

In a statement, the Karnataka Food Safety and Quality Department said that several carcinogenic substances were found in 12 cake samples collected from bakeries in Bengaluru.

According to the details, out of 235 cake samples tested by the state government, 223 were found safe, while 12 contained dangerous levels of artificial colouring.

Popular cake varieties like red velvet and black forest, often made with these vibrant colours, pose significant health risks, Karnataka’s food safety department said.

The government body warned bakeries to refrain from using artificial colours in cakes, such as Allura Red, Sunset Yellow FCF, Ponceau 4R, Tartrazine, and Carmoisine, among others.

The high use of artificial colours increases cancer risks and also harm mental and physical health, said the Karnataka Food Safety and Quality Department in its statement.