BANNED: These 11 foods are banned by FSSAI in India

Red Bull was banned in India in 2011 for a high caffeine content 

11 foods banned by FSSAI in India due to health concerns, environmental damage, and cultural interference 

Know when and why these foods were banned? 

India celebrates and enjoys food in its culture, savoring every dish with delight. However, some foods can prove dangerous, having profound implications for consumers. Therefore, strict rules and regulations are established for food safety and the public health of the country's people. For this, the Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI) has banned several food items that have health concerns, affect the environment, and might interfere with culture.

In this article, we talk about the foods prohibited in the Indian territory. The list includes the items, with detailed answers to when and why:

Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) has been banned in India since 1990: 

It is a food additive that has a concentration of bromine, which gets piled up within the body, causing health problems like neurological issues, organ damage, thyroid problems, and weight gain, among others[27].

BVO was added as an emulsifier and stabilizer in citrus-flavored soft drinks and other beverages, which enhanced their flavor and texture [26]. 

It is banned in the UK, EU, and Japan. In the US, it was banned last year in August 2024[26].

Research conducted by K.A. Woodling, P. Chitranshi, C.C Jacob, and others at the US Food and Drug Administration, National Center for Toxicological Research, USA on the toxicities caused by Brominated Vegetable oil (BVO) in rats found increased tissue levels of organic and inorganic bromine, with the thyroid a potential targeted organ [1]. 

In 2003, FSSAI banned the Sassafras oil as it posed a threat to health. It contained safrole, which is a carcinogen in rats and results in cancer as well as liver damage. 

There is also the presence of erucic acid content that too beyond the permissible limit, which is harmful to the heart and causes various cardiovascular diseases [28].

Safrole in Sassafras oil was traditionally used in medicines. Later on, as a flavoring agent in beer, candy, and other products (especially US), herbal teas as well as perfumes and soaps[28].  

5ml Sassafras oil is enough to kill an adult[29]. The FDA has also banned Sassafras oil in the US[28].

Animal studies have shown that Sassafras oil is linked to liver cancer and tumor growth. It destroys serotonin nerve cells in the brain, which can lead to conditions like anhedonia [2]. 

Red Bull, the energy drink which “gives you wings” and many others like it, contain caffeine, taurine, and some other stimulants. Because of the ingredients present in the drink, it has potential health concerns like cardiovascular problems, nervous disorders, and might lead to addiction [8]. It can also cause a spike in blood pressure and even dehydration.  Red Bull faced significant challenges in India, following which, it was temporarily banned in 2006 for its caffeine content that was more than the prescribed limit for non-alcoholic drinks.

If not for the adults, there are concerns for children, with evidence stating the harmful effects of Red Bull. As many as 57 studies on energy drinks until 2024 stressed their harmful effects on young people’s mental and physical health, further affecting their behavior and education (posted by BBC dated 15th January 2024) [3]. 

Milk and its byproducts from China (along with infant formula), including chocolate products, confectionery, and foods containing milk or milk solids, have been banned in India since 2008. This happened after food safety scandals and contamination reports surfaced in China [4]. The Melamine incident stands to be one of the biggest food scandals in history, calling for major implications for food safety worldwide [5]. 

The Chinese diluted the milk by 30% and mixed a toxic chemical, melamine, to increase the protein levels, artificially adulterating the original content [5]. 

Melamine causes kidney stones and other issues, which ultimately fail the human kidney [6].

A 2019 study by Qi Li, Pan Song, and Jianguo Wen reviewed the harm caused by Melamine to the human body, its impact, along with the lessons and prospects on food safety [7]. 

The ban was further extended to the imports in April 2019. It will be imposed until FSSAI detects melamine in the milk products.

For the artificial ripening of fruits, chemical agents such as calcium carbide and ethylene gas are used. For food safety and various health concerns, the use of these chemicals is banned under the Regulation of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions of Sales) Regulations, 2011 [9]. 

It is prohibited to use carbide gas for fruit ripening under Rule 44 AA of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules 1955 in India [10]. 

Calcium carbide leaves residues of arsenic and phosphorus on fruits. 

It can irritate the oral and nasal mucosae, cause gastrointestinal issues, and in the long run, even damage the kidneys.

It releases acetylene gas, which is harmful for the handlers involved [11].

A 2024 review delves into the benefits and risks involved with the ripening agents, while exploring advanced, safer, and environmentally friendly ripening methods that maintain the nutritional integrity, protecting consumer health. Artificial ripening poses risks to health as well as the environment [12]. 

Genetically modified (GM) foods, an ecological threat

GM foods and crops are a threat to human health with severe consequences for the environment (Image source: Freepik) 

The cultivation and import of genetically modified crops and food are restricted in India. There are environmental consequences, biodiversity loss, and long-term health risks associated with these GM crops and food [13]. Only BT cotton can be cultivated for commercial purposes after being approved in 2002. About 24 specified food consignments are imported, and FSSAI demands GM-free or non-GM-origin certification for them [14].

Scientists also state that if GM foods are mixed with non-GM crops, it might be a threat to biodiversity, or they might develop resistant pests. There are some concerns of the farmers, also. But it is also stated that GM foods are safe for consumption [15].

The review by A.S. Bawa and K.R. Anilakumar at the Defence Food Research Laboratory, Mysore, India, studied the safety, food security, and public concerns associated with Genetically Modified (GM) foods. Like all the other technologies, Genetic modification and recombinant technology also have their risks, both known and unknown [13].

The sale and import of Foie gras was banned in India in 2014, citing ethical concerns and protests by animal rights activists. The production of foie gras involves the force-feeding of ducks or geese to enlarge their livers, which is cruel and inhumane [16]. Several other countries, including Germany and England, have banned Foie gras.

India is committed to the ethical treatment of animals and promotes humane farming practices. To fulfill this, it stands one with the world [17].

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) writes about the cruelty and harm caused to ducks and geese to produce foie gras[16]. 

Potassium bromate contains carcinogenic properties, due to which it was banned in 2016. It was used as a food additive in bread and bakery products to improve the elasticity of dough and bread volume. Potassium bromate increases the risk of cancer (in particular, thyroid). It was classified as a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Studies also reveal that it causes tumors, particularly in the thyroid and kidneys [18].

Y Kurokawa, A Maekawa, and others at the Division of Toxicology, National Institute of Hygienic Sciences (Tokyo, Japan) studied the toxicity and carcinogenicity of potassium bromate (KBrO3). When consumed orally, KBrO3 is carcinogenic in rats and nephrotoxic in man and other experimental animals [19]. 

The import of Chinese garlic was banned in India in 2019, citing health and quality concerns over the high pesticide residue found in it. Chlorine levels were found to be 15 times higher than the safety limit [20]. It also contained methyl bromide, a lethal fumigant that is toxic to health and has severe effects on soil biodiversity[21]. 

There were also concerns about the garlic being fungus-infected and having lower levels of allicin. Moreover, it is cheaper than the Indian garlic and does not meet the quality standards.

Due to religious sensitivities, ethical concerns, and animal welfare principles, rabbit meat sales and its consumption are banned in India. The Hindus consider the rabbit a sacred animal and possess an ethical and cultural principle of compassion towards animals. The ban reflects India’s compassionate approach towards food production [22].

The Animal Welfare Board wrote to FSSAI about the consumption of rabbit meat, stating that it is a threatened species. Further arguing that the Indian Hare is protected under Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

The confectionery with trans fats is banned in the country by the FSSAI. Trans fats are created through an artificial chemical process called hydrogenation [23]. Food tastes better, lasts longer, and is available at affordable costs.

Trans fats have serious health concerns- they increase bad cholesterol, which leads to various heart diseases. Trans fats can also cause diabetes, high blood pressure, overweight, obesity, and many other types of cancers [23][24]. 

David Pipoyan, Stella Stepanyan, and others study the adverse effects of trans fatty acids on human health along with their regulation and consumption patterns [25].

These are the 11 foods that have been banned by FSSAI in India and many other countries owing to health, environmental, and various other reasons. Thus, they can neither be sold nor consumed.