Auramine O:
India continues to face recurring episodes of chemical adulteration in food, particularly through the use of non-permitted synthetic dyes and one of the most persistent among them is auramine O.
- Auramine O is a synthetic yellow dye produced from compounds such as dimethylaniline and formaldehyde.
- The dye appears as yellow flakes or powder and dissolves easily when mixed with solvents.
- It is not approved for use as a food colour in India, the European Union, and the United States.
- It is extensively used in industry, including textile and leather processing, printing inks, paper manufacturing, and certain microbiological staining procedures.
- It creates health risks like liver and kidney damage, enlargement of the spleen, mutagenic effects that can alter genetic material, and potential carcinogenic outcomes.
- It is classified as an industrial dye by the regulators in the S., EU, and East Asian nations and its presence in consumables triggers product recalls and import alerts.
- The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies auramine as a substance that is possibly carcinogenic to humans.
