Non-edible ice should be coloured in blue, says Food Minister

State approves FDA proposal asking factories to develop blue-colour ice to be used for industrial purposes

Now, when you go out in the summer to drink juices or soft drinks make sure the ice used at the stall is colourless, because soon two types of ice such as ‘transparent’ and ‘blue’ will be seen in the market. The blue one will be used for edible and non-edible purposes.

A senior official from Food and Drug Administration said the state government has finally approved the long-pending proposal of developing two types of ice for which they will conduct a meeting with ice-factory owners. “Once we get the notification from the government it will be made mandatory for all the ice factory in the state to develop blue colour ice apart from transparent,” said official.

“Edible ice that is used for making ice cream or drinks, will be white in colour. While the non-edible ice that is used for the industrial purpose would be blue in colour. People often consume non-edible ice unknowingly from roadside juice stalls which can lead to several kinds of health issues,” said Girish Bapat, Minister of Food and Drug Administration, State.

A senior FDA official said that soon they will be conducting a meeting with registered ice-making factories in the city and asking them to make blue-coloured ice along with colourless ice. “After the proposal gets completely implemented, we would hold regular checking of the ice provided to customers and if any vendor is found violating it, he would hold accountable under the public safety norms of FDA,” said official.

A senior official said that the ice which is used in food items are made of potable water and ice used in industries are made of nonpotable water. The industrial ice is used in mortuary, cement and colour factory. “If this proposal is approved then it will be easier for citizens to identify between eating ice and industrial ice. Moreover, Mumbai will be the first city where two colours of ice will be used,” said Dr Pallavi Darade, FDA Commissioner.