Press Release
NEW JERSEY, USA, March 24, 2004: A New Jersey couple and their 13-month-old child were diagnosed with serious lead poisoning. Investigation of the poisoning by The New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES) determined that they had been adding a product called “sindoor” to their food as a food coloring. Analysis of this product revealed that is was nearly pure lead. Due to a risk of lead poisoning, NJPIES is urging that such products NOT be added to food. There appear to be several available products called sindoor. It is not known at this time if all products labeled sindoor contain lead. In fact some are labeled “not edible.” Despite the not edible warning, some people add it to food as a food color to give meats and rice a “red color.” Sindoor is a general name for cosmetic products that Hindu women use to color the part of their hair red as a sign that they are married. This and other similar products are also used by some Indian women as a cosmetic. Sindoor should not be sold as a food coloring. According to the information gathered by NJPIES, some families used Sindoor to color their chicken, rice, and other food, states this release from NJPIES. “At this time,” the release concludes, “we urge anyone that may have added this to their food to contact their health care provider to obtain a blood test for lead.”
HPI sought additional information on sindoor from India and received this report from our Delhi correspondent, Mr. Rajiv Malik:
“I spoke to Nashik-based Swami Samvidanand Saraswati, President, Kailash Math Trust, who confirmed that today sindoor is made in such a way that it has poisonous chemicals, including lead, and is not supposed to be used in any way for the coloring of food. Swami said lead was being used to increase the weight of sindoor. Swami said in the olden days herbs like turmeric were used in making sindoor which are known for their healing properties and were not harmful even if consumed in food. But today, due to commercial reasons, chemicals are being used and these chemicals have poisonous qualities which could be harmful if consumed in food. Swami gave me this information after speaking to a sindoor manufacturer in Nashik.”
For information on the harmful effects of lead, click here.
HPI would appreciate contact from anyone who can supply an authentic recipe for sindoor which does not contain any harmful ingredients. E-mail to ar@hindu.org.