Panicked over a recent statement made by FDA, Maharashtra that magnesium carbonate— an ingredient in gutkha— causes cancer, a group of chemical manufacturers have demanded immediate withdrawal of the ‘‘wrong and unauthorised’’ statement as they suffer heavy loss.
S C Lal, secretary of Bhavnagar Chemical Manufacturers’ Association, said that the statement had caused widespread repurcussions in Bhavnagar, Tuticorin and Bangalore which are centres for production of magnesium carbonate.
He said that the ‘‘baseless statement’’ had put hardship to 20-odd manufacturers in Bhavnagar alone who were having an annual turnover of Rs 10 crore from the sale of magnesium carbonate to various industries like pharmaceuticals, salt and cosmetics.
He has demanded that Maharasthra FDC should come out with evidence to prove the statement or withdraw it forthwith because ‘‘this has led to cancellation of orders which will affect nearly 2,000 families connected to the business.’’
Lal presented data from Indian Pharamcopoea 1996, J T Baker Study and a textbook on Pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics in support of their claim. ‘‘Since magnesium carbonate is not a carcenogenic substance, we strongly object to the statement,’’ said Lal.
According to S P Adeshara, Food and Drug Commissioner, Gujarat, ‘‘Magnesium carbonate might not be causing cancer directly but because of its alkaline nature, it causes irritation in the bucal mucosa which can cause cancer.’’
Dr Umank Tripathi, a cancer surgeon, has opined that though it might not be the direct cause for cancer, but it could act as a catalyst to cancer causing material used in gutkha.