Consumer body raises alarm over use of synthetic colours in chicken cleaning in Warangal

Consumer activists and food safety officials have raised concerns over the alleged use of harmful synthetic colours instead of turmeric while cleaning chicken at several centres in Warangal. Authorities warned of strict action and announced awareness programmes on food safety.

Hanamkonda: Southern States Consumer Coordination Committee president Dr. Pallepadu Damodar has expressed concern over traders using harmful synthetic colours instead of turmeric while cleaning chicken.

Dr. Damodar, along with Consumer Confederation of India (CCI) national general secretary Sambaraju Chakrapani, Food Safety Officer Mounika and CCI State joint secretary Ravula Ranjit Kumar, inspected chicken centres at Pochamma Maidan and Kashi Bugga areas of Warangal.

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Food Safety Officer Mounika stated that most chicken centres in the city were using harmful colours instead of turmeric as an antibiotic while cleaning chicken. Consumers who consume chicken treated with such colours could suffer from intestinal cancer, said a release issued here on Wednesday.

The synthetic colours could cause girls and young children to suffer from serious chronic diseases. She warned that strict action would be taken against the use of synthetic colours in chicken centres from now on.

Chakrapani said that earlier only cooked chicken was considered a food item, but according to current laws and amendments, chicken before cooking could be considered “processed food”, and therefore strict action was needed against harmful practices being followed in chicken centres.

He added that large-scale awareness programmes would be organised across the district on the use of harmful chemicals in chicken processing, which weakens the immunity of consumers and causes serious illnesses.