Chewing tobacco joins list of 'banned foods'

Chewing tobacco, like gutka and paan masala, has been included among banned food products in the government's new food safety guidelines. The move has been welcomed by health activists as increasing incidence of oral cancer is being reported in the country, with the 2010 figure at more than 70,000.

Following the ban on the usage of plastic pouches to package chewing tobacco and pan masala, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the health ministry issued a notification prohibiting use of tobacco as an ingredient in any food product.

FSSAI director VN Gaur said that chewing tobacco, like gutka or paan masala, can be called a 'food' because it is consumed like any other food product. "It (tobacco product) is a food product. Anything that is consumed is called food and anything that is food and contains nicotine or tobacco must be banned," Gaur said.