FDA to examine colours before Holi

Mumbai: Ahead of Holi, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will collect and examine samples of chemical based colours used for celebration. The FDA has warned the people to be careful while choosing colours as adulterated colours, which are harmful, are being sold under the garb of natural colours. The FDA will be keeping a close watch on chemical-based colours.

The growing demand for organic colours for Holi has spread out in markets. The herbal gulal, is much more popular at roadside stalls which sell them for Rs 15-20 per 100 gm. The pouches marked as ‘herbal’ are sold for Rs 25.

According to FDA commissioner Pallavi Dharade , “ We are keeping a close watch on  chemical based colours sold outside. We will take strict action against those  found guilty ”

The chemical based colours, which are available in markets, contain poisonous chemicals like metal oxide, lead oxide, copper sulphate, aluminium bromide, copper, mercury, toxic asbestos and silica dust.

As these harsh chemicals are used in colours there is a possibility of eye and skin problems. One may also develop an allergy due to usage of these colours.

Talking to The Asian Age, activist Yajurvedi Rao said “ FDA is an agency which regulates these things but due to certain loopholes that’s reason, we are still getting colours in name of herbal in the market.”

He added, “ The monitoring agencies like the FDA are expected to do seldom checks to ascertain the authenticity of these products, so that it makes manufacturers and retailers conscious about selling spurious material even if demand grows in the name of herbal.”

The natural colours have been tested and accepted by a FDA approved lab and certified by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. The hazardous effects of chemical based colours containing harmful substances may lead to skin, hair and eye problems.