After Karnataka Government found that the spicy water served along with Pani Puri in restaurants and shops contain cancer-causing chemicals, Tamil Nadu government has initiated a massive state-wide inspection to find if there are similar threats here. 

Recently, the Food Safety Officials in Karnataka held inspections in various restaurants and shops selling Pani Puri to assess whether the snack is safe for human consumption. 

More than 250 samples of the spicy water (Pani) were collected from different shops and they were sent to labs. The tests revealed that at least 41 samples had cancer causing chemicals/harmful coloring agents in them and 18 samples were unfit for human consumption. 

“Many samples of panipuri also failed food safety tests and were found to contain cancer reagents. More analysis is being done on this, and after the test report, the health department will take appropriate action. At the same time, the general public should take special care of their health and refrain from consuming food items that affect our health. Great importance should be given to cleanliness and hygiene,” the Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao wrote on X.

Following these findings, the food safety department of Tamil Nadu became alert, and announced a statewide inspection.

FSSAI designated officer for Coimbatore K. Tamilselvan reportedly said on Wednesday that a special team has been formed to conduct inspections in Chaat Shops and Restaurants that sell Pani Puri in the city. As sale of the snack will be higher during the evening hours, the inspections would be held in that period and the team will collect samples of the masala and the spicy water that is a part of the snack, and the standards of the same will be evaluated in labs.