Idli alert: Cancer risk found in Malayalees' favourite breakfast food, authorities scramble to act

Idli is one of the most beloved and regularly prepared breakfast items in Malayalee households. However, recent reports have raised serious concerns regarding its safety. Shocking findings suggest that certain idlis could even pose a cancer risk, prompting the Food Safety Department to take action. The investigation primarily targets idlis prepared in various hotels across Karnataka.

An inspection conducted by the Karnataka Food Safety Department has revealed alarming details. During the inspection, authorities found that 52 hotels were using polythene sheets for making idlis. Out of the 500 samples tested, 35 were found to contain harmful chemical substances that could cause cancer. In response, Karnataka's Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stated that the government is considering a complete ban on the use of plastics in food preparation.

Some hotels and roadside vendors have been found to use plastic sheets instead of cotton cloth for steaming idlis. When exposed to heat, these plastic materials break down and release harmful chemicals, potentially leading to cancer. Typically, cotton cloth is used to cover the idli batter while steaming, but the increasing use of plastic in its place has raised significant health concerns.

Karnataka is home to a large number of Malayalees, who reside there for work and education. Many of them rely on outside food rather than cooking at home. Therefore, this issue directly affects the Malayalee community as well. With food safety concerns emerging in Karnataka, it has become a major issue for everyone, including Malayalees living in the state.