- The Tamil Nadu government issued an advisory banning the use of liquid nitrogen in food and warned of stringent action against violators due to its harmful effects on human health.
- When nitrogen evaporates, it displaces oxygen in the food pack, preventing microbial action and preserving freshness.
- The technique was useful in packing coffee, potato crisps, peanuts and peanut butter, milk products, cheese, and dried potatoes.
- Liquid nitrogen, an inert, colourless, odourless cryogenic liquid has traditionally been used in the management of many benign pre-cancers and cancers since the 1960s.
- The procedure involves using the element at a frosty -196 degrees C to freeze and destroy cancer cells.
- The treatment is scientifically described as cryotherapy. It can also be used to obtain biopsies from cancer tissues for further molecular analysis. Another application is to use it as cryo-adhesion to remove foreign bodies.
- Cryotherapy has been attempted to treat many cancers, including those of skin, bone, breast, cervical, eye, kidney, liver, lung, and prostate.
- Liquid nitrogen should be handled by trained professionals with proper protective gear, preferably in a controlled lab or industry, as improper handling or consumption of liquid nitrogen can cause severe damage to the skin, mucous membranes, and internal organs.
- The Tamil Nadu Food Safety Department cited the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, and the Drug Administration department issued a circular on the use of liquid nitrogen saying the substance can only be used to preserve packaged food.
Dig Deeper: Read about Cryo-preservation and Absolute Zero temperature
