The FSSAI advises consumers and food merchants to stop packaging and storing food in newspapers. The guideline raises awareness of the health dangers of using newspapers for food storage and packaging and promotes responsible packaging…
Food sellers and consumers nationwide are asked to avoid using newspapers for packing, serving, and storing food.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued this advice on Wednesday due to the health risks of using newspapers to wrap food.
The FSSAI CEO, G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, said this practice poses serious health hazards and that the effort tries to warn consumers, food merchants, and other stakeholders.
He claimed newspaper ink contains bioactive elements with established health risks that can contaminate food and cause health problems.
He also observed that printing inks may leak lead and heavy metals into food, causing long-term health hazards. The FSSAI stated that newspapers are regularly distributed in different environments, leaving them susceptible to bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that could contaminate food and cause food-borne illnesses.
Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, restrict the use of newspapers or similar materials for food storage and wrapping.
Newspapers shall not be used to wrap, cover, serve, or absorb fried food oil, per this law.
Mr. Rao has urged all food vendors to use responsible packaging that prioritizes client safety. He added that the FSSAI underlines its commitment to food safety by opposing newspaper food packaging and promotes safe alternatives.
The FSSAI said it is working with state food regulators to ban newspaper food packaging and raise public awareness.
Conclusion
Food retailers and consumers are prohibited from using newspapers for packaging, serving, and storage by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The order raises awareness of the health risks of this activity because newspaper ink contains bioactive chemicals with established health consequences. The FSSAI warns that lead and other heavy metals in printing inks may seep into food and cause serious health issues.
Newspapers are exposed to environmental variables during distribution, rendering them susceptible to bacterial, viral, and other pathogen contamination that could cause food-borne illnesses. Food storage and packaging cannot utilize newspapers or similar materials under the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018. The FSSAI urges food merchants to use responsible packaging that prioritizes consumer health and emphasizes their commitment to food safety. Food regulatory bodies and the FSSAI promote awareness of this issue.
