Hawkers sell cotton candy on busy Besant Road in Vijayawada. | Photo credit: KVS GIRI
After the governments of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Puducherry banned the sale of cotton candy in the first months of 2024, there was much discussion about whether the same should apply in Andhra Pradesh. However, due to obstacles encountered during the collection of samples, this process was stopped at that time.
Despite containing the harmful dye Rhodamine B, the use of which is banned in the state, cotton candy continues to be sold at public gatherings in Vijayawada, including the recent Vijayawada Book Festival.
Now, after almost two years, the process has taken off across the state. “In 2024, the ban on sale of cotton candy in neighboring states created fear among vendors in the state and they were out of sight for three to four months, making it difficult for our officers to continue the sampling process,” AP Joint Food Controller N. Purnachandra Rao said.
With cotton candy now returning to public places, the State Food Safety Department has decided to take samples, starting from Guntur and Vijayawada. “Most of the vendors are from other states and keep traveling from one place to another and are hard to find,” explained a state official.
The ban on cotton candy cannot be enforced until laboratories confirm the presence of the dye, and for this, samples need to be collected from public places across the state, Mr. Purnachandra Rao added.
Cotton candy is known to contain rhodamine B, a common dye used in the textile, paper and leather industries and used to give the food its bright pink hue. Mr. Purnachandra Rao explained that another dye Metanil Yellow is also banned.
However, not all synthetic food dyes are banned in the state. Some, like Tartrazine, are allowed to some degree. 100 parts per million (ppm) of synthetic color can be used in sweets or bakery products, while the same limit can reach 5,000 ppm in cold drinks or paan masala. However, its use is prohibited in hot food items like curry, Mr. Purnachandra Rao said.
The official also urged parents not to buy cotton candy as it is manufactured in unsanitary conditions.
Published – 26 Jan 2026 18:53 IST
