Fake Allegations Fall Apart; Tata Chemicals Says its Salt is Safe

Posted by swapnil jukunte on August 2nd, 2019

Fake news about Tata Salt containing an alarming level of cyanide continues to spread across India. Before the FSSAI, the Government body responsible for food safety and regulation gave any clarifications, some news outlets had already broadcast speculated stories and rumours based on these allegations. They did not bother asking either FSSAI or the salt manufacturer for any explanation.

Thus, misinformation or fake news continues to do rounds on social media sites and various news channels. Moreover, recently, a consumer activist, Shiv Shankar Gupta, raised alarms that potassium ferrocyanide level is exceptionally high in Tata Salt at 1.85 mg/kg. Such allegations against a reputed salt brand created a huge controversy. Along with that, it caused significant panic among a large number of Indian consumers and also affected the brand.

Related Story : Tatas battle misinformation campaign against salt brand

Tata Salt, among one of the most trusted brands in India, sent out a statement immediately after this false claim was made. Tata chemical has put out credible reports stating that those allegations were false and misleading and ferrocyanide had been used within the specified limits.

To address this issue, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, got into action and has refuted this allegation. They twitted that ferrocyanides are used as anti-caking agents in processing salt and are entirely safe for consumption. They also clarified the level of potassium ferrocyanide found in the salt as per Tata chemical's lab report is below FSSAI's permissible limits of 10 mg/kg.

It is also confirmed that the European Union, including the United Kingdom, permitted the use of potassium ferrocyanide in salt and other salt substitutes at a maximum level of 20 mg/kg. The European Parliament also allowed the use of ferrocyanide as an anti-caking agent in salt up to 20 mg/kg. With all these scientific facts and reports, one can be confident that table salts like Tata Salt are safe for daily consumption.