Idli is considered to be one of the healthiest options for Indians. It is easy to digest and requires no oil or spices to prepare. However, if made the way some eateries and vendors do, the same idli might be hazardous or even cause cancer, according to the Karnataka Food Safety Department.
Let’s take a look. About 500 samples of idlis made at roughly 251 hotels and roadside vendors were collected by health department officials in Bengaluru. According to laboratory analysis, 51 of these samples were deemed unsafe.
According to reports, they contained carcinogenic substances, suggesting consumers may develop cancer as a result. The results of the remaining hundreds of samples are still pending. Plastic in idli making After detecting the contaminated samples, health officials inspected the preparation methods at the hotels and vendors where these idlis were made.
Idli batter is traditionally spread out on fresh cotton cloths, which are then placed on idli pans and steam-cooked. However, several hotels and street vendors now use plastic sheets instead of cotton ones. Authorities claim that these plastics produce chemicals, some of which may be carcinogenic, when heated continuously.
According to The Times of India , many plastic sheets contain chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which can get absorbed into food when heated. It releases toxins and microplastics that accumulate in the body over time, increasing the risk of canc.
