Ministry urged to ban harmful dye in food items

Food containing the Ponceau 4R being displayed at the CAP office in Penang.

THE Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has called on the Health Ministry to ban the use of food colouring Ponceau 4R.

Its president S.M. Mohamed Idris said the reddish-orange dye produced from petroleum products was already banned in Canada, Norway and United States as it was known to cause cancer, allergic reactions and asthma.