The Karnataka government has officially banned the use of plastic in the preparation of idlis across all hotels in the state after concerns were raised about the presence of carcinogenic elements. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stated that the Karnataka Food Safety Department had conducted a thorough investigation after receiving reports that some hotels were using polythene sheets instead of the traditional cloth while steaming idlis.
As part of this probe, the department tested 251 idli samples from various hotels across the state. The results revealed that 52 of these samples contained traces of plastic, confirming that certain establishments were using polythene sheets in the cooking process. The minister expressed serious concerns about this practice, emphasizing that plastic contains harmful carcinogens that can leach into the food when exposed to heat, thereby posing significant health risks to consumers.
Given these findings, the Karnataka Health Department has decided to take strict action to prevent the use of plastic in idli preparation. Official orders will soon be issued to ensure that all hotels and food establishments adhere to this new regulation. Any business found violating the rule by continuing to use plastic sheets will face stringent penalties. The government is committed to enforcing food safety standards and protecting public health by eliminating hazardous materials from food preparation.
