Source: NDTV
Subject: Miscellaneous
Context: Auramine O, a banned industrial yellow dye, has again been detected in food products during State food safety inspections and academic studies.
About Auramine O:
- What It Is?
- Auramine O is a synthetic diarylmethane-based yellow dye used in industrial and microbiological processes, not permitted as a food colour under Indian regulations.
- Composition: A bright yellow diarylmethane compound, appearing as yellow needle-like crystals; insoluble in water but soluble in ethanol and DMSO.
- Applications:
- Textile, leather & printing industries: Used as an industrial colourant due to its bright hue and low cost.
- Microbiological staining: Stains acid-fast bacteria like Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Auramine–Rhodamine method).
- Laboratory reagent: Used as a fluorescent alternative to Schiff reagent.
- Paper & ink manufacturing: Applied for colouring and fluorescence-based applications.
- Issue Of Misuse In Food:
- Enters food chain illegally as vendors use cheap industrial-grade colour to imitate turmeric/saffron or enhance sweets.
- Sold through unregulated chemical markets, making access easy for small manufacturers.
- Many vendors are unaware of restrictions, while some knowingly bypass enforcement due to weak surveillance.
- Implications:
- Toxicity Risks: Linked to liver/kidney damage, enlarged spleen, endocrine disruption, and mutagenic effects.
- Carcinogenic Potential: Classified by IARC as possibly carcinogenic to humans.
- Chronic Exposure Threat: Recurring ingestion can lead to long-term genetic and metabolic disorders.
- Regulatory Challenge: Weak lab capacity and uneven enforcement make nationwide elimination difficult.
