Parliament Question: Adverse Health Effects of Artificial Food Colours

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 4743 TO BE ANSWERED ON20th MARCH, 2026 ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS OFARTIFICIALFOOD COLOURS 4743. SHRI K E PRAKASH: Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a)whether the Government hastaken note of growing concernsregardingthe adverse health effects of artificialfood colours, particularlyamongchildren, if so, the detailsthereof; (b) whether it isa factthat certainsynthetic food coloursbannedor restricted inother countriescontinue tobe permitted for use inIndia; (c)if so, the detailsof the scientific basis for permittingtheircontinueduse; and (d) whether the Government proposes toimpose a completebanonartificialfood coloursin food productsinthe interest of public healthandif so, the detailsof the timeline fixedinthis regard? ANSWER THE MINISTEROFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) to (d): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to lay down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. The synthetic colours permitted for use in food products as per the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011 are harmonized with the internationally accepted Codex Standards i.e. the General Standard for Food Additives adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The food additives permitted for use are listed in the Appendix Aof Food Safety andStandards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011 which is available on FSSAI’s website at https://fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Appendix%20A(4).pdf. The food safety standards are made based on the scientific opinion provided by independent risk assessment bodies i.e. Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee. Further, the standards are also reviewed on the basis of the availablescientific evidenceandrecognizedglobalbest practices. ******