LUCKNOW, Oct. 18 -- From brightly coloured biryani and tandoori dishes to red chutneys, sweets and cotton candy, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has tightened its watch on the use of unauthorised colouring agents in food, directing businesses to comply with prescribed safety standards or face legal action.

The guidelines, issued on the directions of FSDA commissioner Dr Roshan Jacob, prohibit non-food colours such as Rhodamine-B and restrict the use of approved synthetic colours to food categories where they are permitted. The directions cover sweet shops, restaurants, hotels, bakeries, dhabas, food manufacturers and street food vendors.

The department has called for special vigilance against prohibited dyes...