Eating such idli is sure to cause cancer; Shocking findings in 54 samples, strict action

BENGALURU: Idli is considered a very healthy food as it is steamed. However, making idli using plastic sheets during steaming can cause fatal diseases like cancer. Recently, the Karnataka government took strict action against hotels that made idli using plastic sheets. It has been found that harmful chemicals released when idli is cooked at high temperatures using plastic sheets can cause serious health problems including cancer.

When samples of idli made using plastic sheets were sent for testing, they were found to be inedible. It was also found that these idli contain carcinogenic substances that can cause cancer.

When idli is made using plastic sheets, toxic chemicals can be mixed with food. Many plastic sheets contain bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates and other endocrine disruptors. These get into the food when heated. These accumulate in the body over time and increase the risk of cancer. It increases the risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao also came to the fore in the incident. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that out of 251 hotels, 52 hotels were found to be using plastic. Rao also said that earlier cloth was used to cook idlis, but recently many hotels have started using plastic.