Parliament Question: Health risks from harmful food additives and synthetic colours

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 460 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3rd FEBRUARY, 2026 HEALTH RISKS FROM HARMFUL FOOD ADDITIVES AND SYNTHETIC COLOURS

460. SHRI K.R.N. RAJESHKUMAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government is aware of health risks from harmful food additives and synthetic colours like Titanium Dioxide, Sunset Yellow, Tartrazine and Allura Red AC in processed foods;

(b) the details regarding the findings of scientific or regulatory reviews assessing their carcinogenic or allergenic effects;

(c) the number and names of additives that were already banned by Government in the past, year-wise;

(d) the measures taken to regulate or ban additives, considering international restrictions; and

(e) whether Government plans to revise food safety standards in line with global best practices to protect public health and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (e): 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 A of Food Safety and Standards (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 and are harmonized with internationally accepted Codex standards. Further, the standards are also reviewed time to time on the basis of the available scientific evidence and recognized global best practices.

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