Following hospitalisation of a Delhi businessman for drinking a cocktail containing liquid nitrogen this month, Haryana Government has prohibited flushing or mixing of liquid nitrogen with any drink or food article.
The orders to this effect has been issued under section 34 of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (Central Act 34 of 2006), said Commissioner (Food Safety), Haryana Food and Drugs Administration Department, Saket Kumar on Friday.
He said that as per the expert medical opinion, any drink or food article whose preparation involves the flushing or mixing of
liquid nitrogen is harmful for humans.
Due to its low temperature, liquid nitrogen could be extremely damaging to body tissue causing frostbite and cryogenic burning on contact. Moreover, if ingested, it could lead to severe internal damage, destroying tissue in the mouth and intestinal tract, said the official.
He added that furthermore, as it evaporates liquid nitrogen releases a large volume of gas, it could burst the stomach if ingested in a sufficiently large quantity.
Notably, a 30-year-old Delhi man had ended up in a hospital with an abdomen that was torn. It was reported that he apparently did not wait for the chemical, that creates a white smoke, to dissipate before consuming it at a Gurugram pub.
After the gory episode, he underwent a surgery and was hospitalised for several days.
liquid nitrogen is used at bars to quickly chill glasses, freeze ingredients or provide a smoky effect to drinks.
Doctors who attended on the victim had said his condition was so critical that his stomach looked like an "open book". The surgical procedure lasted for four hours and the doctors had to stitch up the patient.
According to the doctors, “The effect of mixing alcohol and nitrogen can lead to disastrous results. When it is mixed with any cocktail it produces a bubbly and smoky concoction. This is a popular novelty but controversial. The boiling point of this concoction is minus 196 degree C and this makes the consumption potentially lethal”.