By Dr Pankaj ChaturvediFSSAI has shown great enthusiasm to act out against Nestle's Maggi noodles. However, they have been extremely callous in acting against a confirmed carcinogenic food substance called Pan Masala. Pan Masala analysis in India has consistently shown high levels of lead, zinc, cadmium, arsenic apart from many other lethal and toxic chemicals. These adverse health effects were observed by the Maharashtra and Bihar governments where the tobacco based substance is banned. The ban has yet to face a legal challenge in any court so far. It is also ironical that FSSAI has legalized the sale of Pan Masala, which is known to be a highly addictive and harmful food substance, with its own labeled warning of "injurious to health".A report submitted by the Ministry of Health in the Supreme Court concluded that supari (areca nut) causes diabetes, cancer, sub mucus fibrosis, mental disorders, low birth weight and a number of other health problems. Scientific research also adds that chewing areca nut is carcinogenic to humans and has a direct link to cancer.The demand for a nationwide ban aside, the FSSAI is also turning a blind eye to brazen advertisements of the substance endorsed by Bollywood actors on Television while Amitabh Bachchan and Madhuri Dixit have been served notices for endorsing Maggi. The carcinogenic property of the areca nut, which is the main ingredient of Pan Masala has been known for several decades and in 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed these results. A simple Google search would also result in a large number of results showing the areca nut's adverse affects.We have made several representations to FSSAI in the last couple of years along with some to the Department of Consumer Affairs but to no avail. The sale of the masala with a warning looks likely to be a careful ploy of the industry to avoid any possible litigation. (Display of the items included in a chewing session. Slices of the areca nut on the upper left)A review of the systemic adverse effects of areca nut or betel nut also showed that there is substantial evidence for carcinogenicity of areca nut in cancers of the mouth and esophagus. It also said that the nut affects almost all organs of the human body, including the brain, heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract and reproductive organs.Govinda, Ajay Devgan, Shahrukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Manoj Bajpai have or are promoting Pan Masala. One can venture out to say that the companies behind this deadly mouth make a large sum of money.The areca nut is not a harmless substance as widely perceived and proclaimed by its manufacturers and there is an urgent need to recognize it as a harmful food substance and the FSAAI must step in to ensure that its glorification as a mouth freshner be stopped.Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi is a senior oncologist at the Tata Memorial Hospital