GUWAHATI, Sept 25 - The office of the Commissioner of Food Safety has admitted presence of cancer-stimulating chemical magnesium carbonate (MgCO3) in 43 brands of paan masala, including Rajnigandha, Sikhar, Signature, Bimal, Kamla Pasand, etc.
In an affidavit filed (PIL No.19/2020) (Jitul Deka Vs State of Assam) by Commissioner of Food Safety, M Goswami, it is stated that samples of altogether 43 brands of paan masala were collected and all tested positive for MgCO3.
Deka, who filed the PIL, contended that magnesium carbonate is an anticaking agent which increases the risk of cancer. It is prohibited under the Food Safety regulations.�
Deka, in the PIL, further stated that as per scientific research, consumption of paan masala containing MgCO3 leads to acute hyper magnesia, cardiac arrest and cancer.
The petitioner also contended that the permission granted by the State government to manufacture, store, distribute, transport, display and sell paan masala containing magnesium carbonate is in clear violation of Section 26 of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, as well as regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011.
The PIL also referred to the steps taken by the Bihar government last year along with its Maharashtra and Rajasthan counterparts to prohibit manufacture, store, transport, display, distribute or sell gutkha, paan masala, etc., considering the magnitude of the health risks posed by consumption of items containing magnesium carbonate.
