How Saffolite is Whitening Your Food and Harming Your Health?

Have you ever wondered why khoya or rabadi sold in sweet shops look pure white, while the homemade version has a slight yellow or off-white hue? It’s not because they have different process of making it as their is nothing called secret technique. It’s because of the Saffolite chemical, yes you read it correct, they add a chemical to make it look more white.

This whitening chemical is used by almost all the food vendors to enhance appearance but behind the shine lies a serious health hazard. Today, we’ll tell you everything about the chemical. What the Saffolite (or Rangkaat) chemical is, health risks, why it’s used in food and common food items, how you can identify and avoid it.

What is Saffolite (Rangkaat)?

Saffolite, locally called Rangkaat, is a chemical not approved as a food-grade additive but commonly misused in India to make foods appear whiter and more appealing. It is originally meant for industrial use and has no place in your diet.

Despite that, it’s used in:

• Sweets like rabadi, barfi, and kalakand
• Sugar, jaggery, etc.
• Dairy products like khoya, paneer, and curd
• Street food chutneys
• Ice creams and cold desserts, and many others.

And local vendors use it in every product which they want to look more shiny.

In simple words, Saffolite is not a food-grade product and not permitted food additive by food safety authorities like FSSAI, but it is often illegally added to make food look more appealing.

Why Is It Used in Food?

The biggest reason for the use of saffolite (sodium hydrosulphite) in our food is our perception. We thought, what looks visually good is pure and have quality.

Health Risks of Saffolite (Rangkaat)

Saffolite is not meant for consumption. Consuming it regularly, especially in quantities higher than permissible limits, can have serious side effects.

Potential Health Risks

Liver and Kidney Damage: Since it’s not digestible like natural food compounds, it can accumulate in the liver and kidneys, leading to long-term damage.

Digestive Issues: Stomach cramps, nausea, and bloating are common symptoms observed after prolonged consumption.

Cancer Risk: Long-term exposure to synthetic, non-food-grade chemicals has been linked to carcinogenic effects.

Respiratory Irritation: The fumes while handling saffolite in its raw form can irritate the lungs and throat.

It becomes worse when local vendors use it in excessive quantities, far beyond any tolerable limits.

The Real Problem – Overuse and Lack of Regulation

Small vendors and local sweet shops often add Saffolite in quantities far exceeding the tolerable limits, primarily because of these reasons:

• It delivers quick visual results.
• It’s very cheap.
• There’s minimal regulatory oversight in unorganized markets.
• And since most consumers judge food by its color, vendors know a whiter product sells better.
• This lack of awareness and enforcement leads to dangerous levels of chemical exposure for regular consumers.

However, this does not mean big vendors doesn’t use it. They also use it but they have some fear of FSSAI.

How to Stay Safe?

Here’s how to stay safe from Saffolite chemical.

• Trust the color of natural food: Don’t fall for the “whiter is better” myth.
• Buy from reputed sources: Prefer brands and sweet shops that follow FSSAI norms and good manufacturing practices.
• Make traditional sweets at home: Homemade rabadi, khoya, and paneer are naturally off-white and chemical-free.
• Be vocal: Ask vendors about ingredients, and say them not to add saffolite in the process of making anything.

Wrapping Up

Saffolite might give a food item that perfect Instagram look, but it adds nothing but danger to your health. It’s time we shift our focus from visual appeal to food safety, and demand transparency from vendors.

Not everything that shines is gold, and not every white sweet is hygienic.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q. Is saffolite banned in India?

Yes, saffolite is not a permitted food additive under FSSAI and its use in food is illegal.

Q. How to know if sweets have saffolite?

Unnaturally white, overly bright, or synthetic-looking sweets is likely to be contain saffolite.

Q. Can one-time consumption be harmful?

Occasional consumption may not show immediate effects, but repeated exposure is risky.

Q. Is it used in big brands too?

Reputed brands generally avoid such chemicals due to strict quality checks, but they use in small quantity.

Q. More names of Saffolite?

Sodium Formaldehyde Sulphoxylate (SFS), Sodium Hydrosulphite, Hydroxymethanesulphinic Acid, and Rongalite are some other names of Saffolite or Rangkaat.