Will probe liquid nitrogen in food, says Dr Harsh Vardhan
The issue was raised by Congress' Bhubaneswar Kalita.
New Delhi: The government on Monday assured Parliament that it would probe the issue of liquid nitrogen being served in drinks or food at some restaurants if it got any such information.
Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, minister for environment, forest and climate change, Dr Harsh Vardhan said if there was any information about liquid nitrogen being served in beverages in any particular restaurant, the government would get it investigated.
“If the honourable member has any information about liquid nitrogen being served in beverages in any particular restaurant, he can pass on the information to us and we will get it investigated,” said the minister.
The issue was raised by Congress’ Bhubaneswar Kalita who wanted to know from the minister whether he was aware that liquid nitrogen was being served in beverages in some restaurants. His query came in the backdrop of an incident in April when a man drank a cocktail with liquid nitrogen at a Gurgaon pub that burnt a hole in his stomach. After this, the Haryana government banned the use of liquid nitrogen in drinks and food. Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari asked him to provide details to the minister.
To a query relating to environment clearance for an aqua food park at Thunduru in Andhra Pradesh, Dr Vardhan said the Centre’s permission was not needed for it being set up for processing of fish and prawn as it did not fall under category of polluting industry under the Environment Protection Act.