TLI Staff
New Delhi: Terming it an endemic among the youth, the Centre this month imposed blanket ban on E-cigarettes but there is a bigger menace to public health.
Lab tests have proved that many pan masalas contain poisonous and carcinogenic substances but they continue to be sold across the country.
The Bihar government’s decision to ban leading pan masalas sold under Rajnigandha, Kamla Pasand, Madhu, Supreme, Rajshree, Signature and Rounak brand names is rather late but nevertheless welcome.
The decision is worth emulating for other states given that gutkhas and tobacco-chewing products are killing lakhs of people every year.
The Bihar government’s decision is based on a report that these pan masalas contain toxic magnesium carbonate. Samples of these brands were tested in the National Tobacco Testing Laboratory and it was found that all seven pan masala brands including Rajnigandha contained the hazardous chemical “nicotine”.
Patron of the Voice of Tobacco Victims (VOTV) and Max Hospital Chairman, Oncology, Dr Harit Chaturvedi said that while pan masala itself is carcinogenic, addition of nicotine makes it more addictive.
“In fact, not only magnesium carbonate, I am sure these products contain many other adulterants. These products should be tested in all states of India. To lure youngsters, these products are advertised aggressively on print media, radio, TV rampantly, which should be immediately stopped,” Chaturvedi said.
As per a study, India has the highest prevalence of oral cancer globally, with 75,000 to 80,000 new cases of the deadly disease in a year.
A report prepared by experts of National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) to study the harmful effects of gutkha specifies India alone accounts for 86 per cent of the total oral cancer figure across the world. What is more shocking is that chewing tobacco contributes to 90 per cent of oral cancer cases in the country.
Appreciating the Bihar Government’s move, Prof Pankaj Chaturvedi, Deputy Director, Tata Memorial Centre and Voice of Tobacco Victims (VoTV) Founder said, “Banning pan masala in Bihar is a step which shows commitment of the Government that they are concerned about the health of people. There are several studies conducted in Indian labs that have directly proven harmful effects of pan masala.”
Professor Chaturvedi called for ban of hazardous pan masala in the entire country.
As per the Food Safety Act 2011, mixing of nicotine or tobacco to any food products is banned and mixing nicotine with pan masala is contempt of Supreme Court’s order.
The apex court on April 3, 2013 had issued an order, in the case of Ankur Gutkha, banning pan masala and gutkha containing nicotine and had directed all states to ensure compliance. This finding of pan masalas containing nicotine and magnesium carbonate has shocked oncologists and people in the country.
As per Global Adult Tobacco Survey, about 21 crore Indians chew pan masala/gutkha with tobacco mostly along with Areca Nut. That means they are chewing two cancer causing substances simultaneously.
Estimates put the total number of pan masala (without tobacco) users at 4.5 crore.
(Photo credit: WHO)
Also read: Modi government bans E-cigarettes. Now, vaping could land you in jail