Recently, a video went viral on social media claiming that around 30 tonnes of unnaturally bright-yellow roasted chana were seized in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, due to suspected use of a toxic industrial dye called Auramine O.

The video shocked many people. Street snacks like roasted chana are considered simple, affordable, and safe. But this incident forces us to ask a disturbing question: Are we unknowingly eating industrial chemicals just because food looks attractive?

The Gorakhpur Raid That Shocked India

On December 16, 2025, food safety officials in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, executed one of the largest food safety raids in recent Indian history. What they discovered should terrify every Indian household:

The Numbers Are Staggering:

• 750 sacks (30 tonnes) of Auramine O-contaminated roasted chana were seized
• Market value: ₹18 lakh+
• 375 sacks had already been sold through Maa Tara Traders before the raid
• Source: Interstate network spanning Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
• Millions of consumers potentially exposed across Uttar Pradesh

Think about that for a moment. Half of the poison had already reached market shelves before authorities intervened. Your family might have already consumed it. (NDTV Report)

The Viral Video That Started It All

On November 24, 2025, an Instagram reel went viral showing something that would change India’s food safety conversation forever. A presenter simply rubbed roasted chana between his fingers. What happened next shocked millions:

Bright yellow powder came off immediately, exposing the dull, natural brown grain underneath.

Within 72 hours, the video reached millions of viewers. Comment sections exploded with people sharing photos of the suspiciously bright chana they’d purchased. Parents realised they’d been feeding industrial poison to their children as a “healthy protein snack.”

Source: NDTV – Viral Video & Official Reaction

Chemical Name: Auramine O (Auramine Hydrochloride, Basic Yellow 2)
Chemical Formula: C₁₇H₂₂ClN₃

Auramine O is a synthetic diarylmethane dye. In plain English: it’s a chemical compound manufactured to color materials like paper, textiles, and leather. It’s meant for your clothes, not your food.

• Auramine O produces a very bright, fluorescent yellow colour, which is why it is sometimes misused to make roasted chana look fresh and premium
• Raw chickpeas: ₹60-80/kg

Auramine O powder: ₹100-200/kg (but used in minuscule amounts—one kilogram can treat hundreds of kilograms of chana)

Cost per kg of chana: Less than ₹2

Price increase from “premium” appearance: ₹20-40/kg

Profit margin increase: 300-500%

A small investment in poison = massive profit margins.

1. Cancer risk

Auramine O is classified by international cancer research bodies as possibly carcinogenic to humans.

📌 Animal studies show:

• Liver tumours
• Bladder tumours
• Increased cancer risk with repeated exposure

Cancer does not happen overnight — it develops slowly through chronic exposure.

2. DNA damage (genotoxicity)

Scientific studies show that Auramine O can:

• Damage DNA strands
• Cause chromosomal abnormalities

DNA damage is the first step toward cancer development.

3. Liver and kidney toxicity

Once consumed, this dye is processed by the liver and excreted by the kidneys.

Animal studies have reported:

• Liver enlargement
• Tissue damage
• Disturbed metabolic function

Your body treats Auramine O as a toxin, not food.

4. Higher risk for children

Children:

• Eat snacks more frequently
• Have lower body weight
• Have developing organs

Even small amounts of toxic dyes can have a greater long-term impact on children compared to adults.

It shows:

• How easily industrial chemicals can enter food
• How visual appeal is prioritised over health
• How consumers often remain unaware

Food should nourish us — not slowly poison us.

How to check for adulteration at home

While laboratory testing is the most accurate method, you can use these simple checks to screen for added dyes like Auramine O or Metanil Yellow:

• The Water Test:
  • Take a glass of warm water.
  • Add a teaspoon of the chana or dal.
  • Let it sit for 5–10 minutes.

Result: If the water turns bright yellow immediately, the chana is likely adulterated. Pure chana may release a very faint, cloudy color, but it will not be a transparent, bright yellow dye.

• The Rubbing Test:
  • Take a few grains of roasted chana.
  • Rub them vigorously between your moist palms or on a wet white paper/tissue.

Result: If your palms or the paper turn bright yellow, it indicates the presence of an artificial dye.

Summary: If you see chana that looks unnaturally bright, glowing yellow, or shiny, avoid it. It may contain Auramine O.

Bright-yellow roasted chana may look tempting, but if that colour comes from Auramine O, it carries serious health risks — including DNA damage and cancer potential.

Until strict enforcement and awareness improve, the safest choice is awareness.

If a snack looks unnaturally bright, pause.
Your health is worth more than colour.

“In November 2025, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued an official regulatory order directing food safety authorities nationwide to investigate and take enforcement action against the illegal use of the industrial dye Auramine O in roasted chana and other food products. Any presence of Auramine O in food renders the product unsafe and adulterated under Indian food law. Several state-level enforcement actions and media reports have since highlighted cases where roasted chana samples were found to contain this banned dye.”

References & Scientific Sources

1. NCBI – National Center for Biotechnology Information
   Auramine: Occupational exposure, bladder cancer & toxicology
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK304416/
2. IARC / INchem Summary (WHO)
   Auramine – Tumour formation in animal studies
   https://inchem.org/documents/iarc/suppl7/auramine.html
3. Safety Data Sheet (SDS) – Auramine O
   Toxicity, irritation, carcinogenic warning
   https://www.alphatecsystems.com/files/sds/ATS%20SDS/SDS0159.H%20-%20Auramine%20O%20Fluorescent%20Stain.pdf
4. FSSAI – Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
   Official Enforcement Order on Auramine O in Roasted Chana (Nov 2025)
   https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/advisories/2025/12/692d256c22306Order%20to%20CFSCLAs%20-%20Roasted%20Chana.pdf

Mehebub Alam Chowdhury

I’m Mehebub Alam Chowdhury, an M.Sc. Organic Chemistry student, and my mission with Decodepure is to simplify complex chemical ingredients in everyday products. With my knowledge of chemicals, I aim to help you make safer, healthier choices by breaking down product labels in an easy-to-understand way.