It is sweet, consists of sugar threads, has a characteristically large volume, is sold mainly in amusement parks and fairs and is preferred, mainly by children.
However, cotton candy, which makes anyone who eats it a sugar high, has raised concerns about how bad it can be for health.
Can this sweet cause cancer? Last week the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India – as well as other states – banned the sweet after laboratory tests confirmed the presence of a carcinogenic substance, rhodamine-B, in samples sent for testing, reports the BBC. The chemical imparts a fluorescent pink hue and is used to dye textiles, cosmetics and inks.
Studies have shown that the chemical can increase the risk of cancer, and in both Europe and America hair dye is now illegal.
Infectious substances
According to Satheesh Kumar, head of food safety in the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, who spoke to The Indian Express newspaper, the contaminants in cotton wool “could lead to cancer and affect all his organs body”.
Health Minister Ma Subramanian said in a statement that the use of rhodamine-B in “packaging, importing, selling food or serving food at weddings and other public events will be penalized under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.”
Taking a cue from Tamil Nadu, the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh has also reportedly started testing samples of sweets to check for the presence of the carcinogen.
#cotton #wool #cancer
