The Karnataka government banned usage of plastic in the preparation of idlis across all hotels in the state after the Health Minister flagged the presence of carcinogenic elements.

The Karnataka Food Safety Department discovered that 52 hotels across the state were using polythene sheets to prepare idlis, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Thursday. According to him, the Health Department tested about 250 different samples of idli from across the state for use of plastic to cover the idlis while cooking instead of the traditional cloth.

“The department officials collected 251 samples from across the state and sent them for testing. Previously, cloth was used while cooking idli; we got information that these days in some places plastic was being used instead of cloth,” Gundu Rao told the media.

“Therefore, our department investigated this. Out of the 251 samples, 52 samples tested positive for the use of plastic. This should not be done as plastic has carcinogens and this can get into the idli,” the minister explained.

“Therefore, our department investigated this. Out of the 251 samples, 52 samples tested positive for the use of plastic. This should not be done as plastic has carcinogens and this can get into the idli,” the minister explained.

The health department will soon issue official orders to ensure this doesn’t happen and take necessary action against any establishment violating the rule, or found using plastic sheets, he said.

Source: India Today