HomeBlogsRhodamine B: The Industrial Dye Poisoning Your Street Food
By Renova Hospitals
February 03, 2026
Rhodamine B: The Industrial Dye Poisoning Your Street Food
Rhodamine B is a synthetic industrial dye that is strictly prohibited for use in food because of its toxic and potentially carcinogenic effects. Despite this ban, it is still detected illegally in brightly coloured foods such as sweets, syrups, and cotton candy due to its intense pink-red colour and low cost.
Recent food safety actions in India have once again highlighted the risks associated with Rhodamine B exposure, especially among children.
Why Is It Still Used in Food?
If it is banned and dangerous, why do street vendors and small-scale manufacturers continue to use it? The answer lies in economics and consumer psychology.
Cost-Effectiveness: Permitted food colours (like Carmoisine or Erythrosine) are significantly more expensive than industrial dyes. A tiny pinch of Rhodamine B can colour a massive batch of cotton candy or syrup, making it highly profitable for vendors operating on thin margins.
Visual Appeal: Rhodamine B produces a fluorescent, neon-like pink that standard food colours cannot replicate. Humans are biologically wired to be attracted to bright colours in fruit and sweets, and vendors exploit this to attract children.
Stability: The dye is resistant to light and heat. While natural colours (like beetroot extract) fade when exposed to sunlight or high cooking temperatures, Rhodamine B remains vibrant for months, extending the visual "shelf life" of the product.
The Health Crisis: Toxicity and Medical Impact
The consumption of Rhodamine B is a serious public health concern. Since the body treats this dye as a toxin rather than a nutrient, it exerts stress on multiple organ systems.
A. Oxidative Stress and Cellular Damage
At a cellular level, Rhodamine B creates Oxidative Stress. When the body attempts to metabolise the dye, it generates an excess of free radicals. These unstable molecules attack healthy cells, damaging cell membranes and proteins. This is the precursor to inflammation and tissue damage.
B. Hepatotoxicity (Liver Damage)
What does Rhodamine B do to your liver? The liver is the body’s primary filtration system. When Rhodamine B enters the bloodstream, the liver works overtime to break it down.
Accumulation: The dye is not easily excreted. It accumulates in liver tissue.
Necrosis: Studies have shown that chronic exposure can lead to the death of liver cells (hepatocellular necrosis).
Functional Impairment: Over time, this can lead to elevated liver enzymes and, in severe cases, fatty liver or cirrhosis-like scarring.
C. Nephrotoxicity (Kidney Damage)
The kidneys are responsible for filtering toxins from the blood. Rhodamine B puts immense strain on the renal system, potentially leading to tubular necrosis (damage to the tiny tubes in the kidneys) and reduced kidney function.
D. Carcinogenicity (Cancer Risk)
This is the most alarming risk. Rhodamine B is classified as a Group 3 carcinogen by IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer), meaning there is significant concern regarding its potential to cause cancer.
Genotoxicity: Research indicates that Rhodamine B is genotoxic, meaning it can damage DNA structures.
Tumour Promotion: Animal studies have linked the dye to the development of intestinal and liver tumours over prolonged exposure periods.
Vulnerable Populations: Who Is at Most Risk?
While unsafe for everyone, the risk profile changes based on age and health status.
Children: This is the most critical demographic. Children have a lower body weight, meaning a small amount of dye represents a much higher toxic dose compared to an adult. Furthermore, their detoxification organs (liver and kidneys) are still developing. So, is pink cotton candy safe for kids? The short answer is: If it looks neon or glowing, it is not safe. Children are the most vulnerable population when it comes to Rhodamine B toxicity.
Pregnant Women: There is a risk that toxins circulating in the maternal bloodstream can affect fetal development. Oxidative stress is particularly dangerous during pregnancy.
The Elderly & Immunocompromised: Individuals with pre-existing liver or kidney conditions have a reduced capacity to process toxins, making them susceptible to acute poisoning faster than healthy adults.
The "Cotton Candy" Crackdown: A Case Study
In 2024 and 2025, several Indian states, including Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karnataka, initiated strict bans specifically targeting colored cotton candy.
Food safety officials collected samples from beaches and fairs and found that a significant percentage of "pink" cotton candy contained Rhodamine B. This led to a "zero-tolerance" policy, where vendors found using the dye faced immediate shop closure and legal action. This real-world scenario highlights that this is not a theoretical risk—it is an active food safety emergency.
Together, these findings explain why regulatory agencies classify Rhodamine B as unsafe for human consumption.
Identifying Rhodamine B in Food
But how to check for Rhodamine B in food at home? As a consumer, you cannot perform a chemical lab test on the street. However, there are sensory and simple home-based tests that can act as red flags.
Visual Cues (The "Glow" Test)
Fluorescence: Legitimate food colours are usually matte or glossy but rarely "neon." If a sweet glows or appears unnaturally bright under sunlight, it likely contains an industrial dye.
Uniformity: Industrial dyes often colour very evenly and intensely, whereas natural colours may have slight variations.
The Water/Wash Test
If you buy a sweet item (like a sugar candy or coated fennel seeds/saunf):
Take a piece and rub it with a wet finger or drop it in a glass of water.
The Result: If the colour releases immediately and leaves a bright, staining trail that is difficult to wash off your skin, be suspicious. Approved food colours usually wash off skin relatively easily; Rhodamine B stains skin like ink.
The Label Check
Always check the packaging for the FSSAI Logo and the license number. Legitimate products must list their ingredients. If you see "Contains Permitted Synthetic Food Colours," it is likely safe (though moderation is key). If the label is missing or vague, avoid it.
Safe Alternatives: What Should Be Used?
Food does not need toxic chemicals to be colourful. The FSSAI and FDA approve specific colours that are safe for human consumption within set limits (usually 100ppm).
Permitted Synthetic Colours:
Carmoisine: A red colour commonly used in jams and jellies.
Erythrosine: A cherry-pink colour.
Tartrazine: A lemon-yellow colour.
Sunset Yellow: An orange colour.
Natural Alternatives (The Best Choice):
Beetroot Extract (Betanin): Provides a deep red/pink colour.
Turmeric (Curcumin): Provides yellow.
Anthocyanins: Derived from grapes or berries for purple/blue hues.
Paprika Oleoresin: For orange/red.
Consumers should prioritise products using natural colours, especially for children.
Vigilance is Your Best Defence
The presence of Rhodamine B in our food chain is a failure of ethics by vendors and a challenge for regulators. However, as consumers, we hold the ultimate power: the power of choice.
By refusing to buy unnaturally colored sweets, educating our children about the dangers of "glowing" food, and reporting suspicious vendors, we can drive this toxic dye out of the market.
Key Takeaways
Rhodamine B is an industrial dye, not a food ingredient
Illegal use can cause liver damage, neurological toxicity, and cancer risk
Children are the most vulnerable population
There is no antidote; prevention is essential
Avoid unnaturally bright-coloured foods and buy from licensed vendors
Strong regulation and consumer awareness are key to public safety
(Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only. It has been researched using public health data, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you suspect poisoning, visit an emergency room immediately.)
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Find quick answers to common questions about our services, doctors, and care at Renova Hospitals. So you can feel informed and confident at every step.
If I ate pink cotton candy once, will I get cancer?
Cancer risk is generally associated with chronic (long-term) exposure or high-dose exposure. Eating it once is unlikely to cause cancer immediately, but it adds to your body's toxic load. If you experience nausea or abdominal pain, visit Renova Hospitals for a consultation.
Is Rhodamine B found in cosmetics?
It is also banned in cosmetics in many regions (like the EU) because it can be absorbed through the skin. However, illegal use of cheap lipsticks or blushes found in grey markets is possible.
Can I cook the dye out of the food?
No. Rhodamine B is heat-stable. Boiling, baking, or frying will not destroy the chemical structure of the dye. It remains toxic.
How do I report a vendor?
In India, download the "Food Safety Connect" app or use the FSSAI portal. You can upload photos of the suspicious food and location. This triggers an inspection by food safety officers.
Is "Food Grade" Rhodamine B a thing?
No. There is no such thing as "Food Grade" Rhodamine B. Any seller claiming this is lying. It is purely an industrial chemical.
