The Karnataka government has enacted a ban on the use of artificial colors in chicken kebabs and fish dishes across the state. This decision follows recent quality tests on random samples that revealed the adverse impact of artificial colors on food quality.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao emphasized that the ban prioritizes public health. He instructed the Food Safety Department Commissioner to investigate and address the harmful effects of artificial colors in food.

The state's food safety department recently collected and analyzed 39 kebab samples, discovering that eight of them contained unsafe levels of artificial colors such as sunset yellow and carmoisine.

Violating this ban carries severe penalties, including imprisonment for a minimum of seven years, potentially extending to life, a fine of Rs 10 lakh, and the revocation of the food outlet's license.

These findings were reported under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The 2011 regulations prohibit any artificial colors in food products.

This new ban follows the state's earlier prohibition on artificial colors in Gobi Manchurian and cotton candy.