Bengaluru, 22 May

Two weeks after Department of Food Safety and Quality banned using liquid nitrogen for serving food, many eateries at VV Puram, Indiranagar and Marathahalli continue to use this dangerous liquid.

A bar situated near Ashok Nagar uses the chemical for preserving food and to present food appealingly. “We use liquid nitrogen for preserving frozen desserts and on cocktails that are served. People love to buy liquid nitrogen-infused smoky cocktails as they come in fancy presentations. We use it in limited quantities as there are no harmful side effects of it. Till now we have not had any bad experience with any of our customers,” the manager of the bar said.

When Salar News talked to a couple of food lovers, many were unaware of the ban. Reshmi Prasad, who works in a PR company in City, said: “I always eat fancy ice creams that are served with a smoky effect in it. But I was not aware that they used the liquid nitrogen in it.”

Speaking to Salar News, an official of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said: “FSSAI has empowered the designated officers to take immediate action against any food business operator found using liquid nitrogen for direct consumption. The public can contact the toll-free helpline number 1800 11 2100 or send an email to kumaresan.ch@fssai.go.in for any complaint regarding food safety concerns.”

Severe internal injuries 

Dr Kasthuri Prasad, a gastroenterologist at Dayanand Sagar Hospital, Harohalli told Salar News that liquid nitrogen can cause severe internal injuries. “When liquid nitrogen enters the body, it rapidly evaporates into gas, causing a sudden expansion that can lead to severe internal injuries, including perforation or rupture of the digestive tract. This can result in excruciating abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and potentially life-threatening complications like pneumothorax (a condition where the air leaks between the lungs and chest walls leading to a chest injury).”

Dr Shibi Dev, an ENT specialist at Nethradhama Eye Hospital, said: “The gas emitted by liquid nitrogen when exposed to air can cause oxygen levels to drop, leading to headaches, light-headedness, and even loss of consciousness. Ingesting liquid nitrogen can cause severe burns and frostbite to the mouth, throat, oesophagus, and stomach lining, while contact with the skin or eyes can result in severe cold burns and frostbite.”

In Bengaluru, surgery was performed on a 12-year-old girl to repair a perforation peritonitis - a hole in the stomach — after she consumed smoke paan with liquid nitrogen. 

Liquid nitrogen is commonly used in:

Cocktails, smoke biscuits, frozen fruits, ice creams, popcorns, peanut butter, dried (dehydrated) vegetables and fruits, carbonated drinks (soft drinks), frozen foods, any packaged food like chips, wafers, frozen fancy desserts in restaurants, coffee, buttermilk and cheese.

What is liquid nitrogen?

Liquid Nitrogen is cryogenic liquid that is kept at a temperature of about -196 degrees Celsius. It is a colourless, odourless and non-flammable liquid that is used in food as preservatives. The chemical is used by various food industries as preservatives. —Salar News