The Food Safety and Standards Authority Of India (FSSAI) has issued an advisory against the use of liquid nitrogen in food and drinks at the point of sale. It has specifically cautioned restaurants, bars, food-serving establishments/caterers in fairs, marriages, etc. The FSSAI states that it has come across several instances of the use of this element "to make the food items like ice creams, cocktails, meetha paan, bakery items like biscuits, desserts, etc. more eye-pleasing or to add some theatre look at the time of serving." However, such usage is "unauthorised" and the consumption of items infused with liquid nitrogen has led to serious health issues/injuries, it points out.
"Liquid nitrogen which is illicitly being used directly at the point of serving/plating is not allowed as this is not the intended purpose/technological use of the additive and shall be considered as non-compliance by the food businesses doing so," the FSSAI said. Furthermore, it clarified that the addition of liquid nitrogen at the point of sale, immediately before consumption, is not outlined in the Food Safety and Standards regulations. "It is intended to serve one or the other technological use... during food processing only", reads the advisory.
Liquid nitrogen is gaseous at room temperature. Photo Credit: Pexels
Liquid Nitrogen (INS 941) is described as a "colourless, odourless gas or liquid" with the functional use of "freezing agent, propellant, packaging gas and foaming agent." According to the FSS regulations, the element is permitted to be used in dairy-based desserts - Ice Cream at the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) level for the technological function of contact freezing and cooling only. "Any violation to this shall result in the initiation of statutory action against the Food Businesses in accordance with FSS Act, 2006 and rule/regulations made thereunder," the food authority warned.
In May 2024, a 12-year-old girl in Bengaluru had to be hospitalised after eating a "smoky paan" infused with liquid nitrogen at a wedding event. She was diagnosed with a condition called perforation peritonitis - a hole in the stomach. Liquid nitrogen has a very low boiling point (-196 degrees Celsius) and is gaseous at room temperature. Ingestion of such a low-temperature gas can be harmful - and even fatal - due to the effect of the extreme cold on the body.