By: Vijaykumar H.K.
With additional colours, flavours, scents, crushed betel nut, and spices, Pan Masala is a dried, granular, pre-mixed variation of the classic pan. In our nation, Pan Masala serves as a cunning substitute for Gutka. With a market worth more than Rs 50,000 crores, Pan Masala industries are one of India’s largest industries. It’s terrible that our nation still isn’t able to outlaw tobacco alone in any form, along with Pan Masala. All state governments banned the production, advertisement, and sale of gutka and Pan Masala mixed with tobacco starting in 2011 due to growing concerns about the effects on the public’s health. As we all know gutka, a type of chewing tobacco flavoured with spices and sweeteners, is a major cause of oral cancer. Following the ban on Pan Masala containing tobacco, the manufacturers used their creative thinking to come up with the concept of producing Pan Masala and tobacco separately in order to keep their customers nationwide. Years ago, a report by the office of the top food analyst made alarming findings about the inability of Pan Masala (without tobacco) to pass quality testing, which showed that oral cancer and other organ failures occurred in users.
The ban on gutka did nothing to improve the cleanliness of the nation; people continue to act out and make public spaces dirty all over the nation even after ingesting only Pan Masala without tobacco. For the purpose of excessive financial gain, our Bollywood celebs are directly and indirectly promoting Pan Masalas to ensure this product to dominance in the nation. The Pan Masala commercial, which had actors Amitabh Bachchan, Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra (in an elachi promo for the brand), Shahrukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Akshay Kumar, among others, helped the product go viral, garnering over 15 million views on Facebook and YouTube to this point. From this, it is simple to imagine how many TV commercials of Pan Masala’s are watched everyday. By utilising prestigious sponsorships like IPL, Pro Kabbadi league etc., the barons who control the most successful, Pan Masala businesses created this product as a hidden tale that broke through gutka’s stifling restriction. As a food product, Pan Masala is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (fssai). Because it contains areca nut, a human carcinogen, it can be advertised and sold but comes with a health notice. Additionally, it contains Catechu, lime, and menthol, which are said to be more harmful ingredients. Artificial sweeteners like INS955, INS965, INS957, etc., are also present. With a product that includes hazardous ingredients and is thought to be responsible for up to two lakh cases of mouth cancer annually, the Pan Masala narrative demonstrates how clever surrogate marketing may circumvent legal limits.
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Many a times the majority of Pan Masala brands don’t promote their goods in advertisements; instead, they promote elaichi or cardamom, which don’t contain any addictive chemicals like tobacco, nicotine, areca nuts, or other stimulants. However, it is impossible to tell the marking apart. Although the owners of the Pan Masala World don’t frequently let paper and television journalists to peep inside them, there have been a few tantalising glances throughout the years. Despite a ban on its use, new investigations indicate that Pan Masala also contains magnesium carbonate. More severe ailments may result from this. Recent reports also claims that the additional ingredients utilised in Pan Masala are unfit for human consumption. Due to the fact that many prohibited compounds do not dissolve, they do not even meet fssai criteria. Banned substances are present in significant amounts in almost all Pan Masala brands which are available in market and affect people’s health. Unfortunately, our government officials are also involved in illegal funding. After constantly complaining about the poor quality of the Pan Masala from the media, social workers and activists. The government has shown no interest in taking action. Foods that are not suitable for consumption or which are harmful to health has to be banned and must be confiscated immediately according to the 2011 Food Standards and Food Ordinances. Most addicted gutka users buy tobacco and mix them with Pan Masala packs after gutka’s ban. This innovation jeopardized the purpose of the ban and its consequent consequences. Pan Masala, on the other hand, should also be regulated by the 2003 Tobacco and Other Tobacco Products Act so that it cannot be disguised and advertised. The World Health Organization (WHO) speculates that there is strong evidence that state-level legislation banning Pan Masala will definitely have a positive impact (on the health of individuals, especially young people) by reducing the availability of Pan Masala products.
