The primary concern highlighted in the report revolves around the presence of certain bioactive substances in the ink used in newspapers
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a strong advisory to both vendors and consumers, urging them to discontinue the practice of using newspapers for the packaging, storage, and serving of food with immediate effect. According to a report by PTI, G Kamala Vardhana Rao, the CEO of FSSAI, has called upon individuals and food providers across the nation to refrain from utilising newspapers for these purposes.
The primary concern highlighted in the report revolves around the presence of certain bioactive substances in the ink used in newspapers, which have the potential to pose significant health risks. Furthermore, newspapers may also contain elements such as lead and other heavy metals, which could potentially find their way into the human body if food packaged in newspapers is consumed.
The urgency in this advisory underscores the importance of safeguarding public health by adopting safer and more hygienic practices in food handling and storage. “Moreover, newspapers are often subjected to various environmental conditions during distribution, making them susceptible to contamination by bacteria, viruses or other pathogens that may transfer to the food, potentially causing foodborne illnesses,” FSSAI added.
In accordance with the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations of 2018, the use of newspapers or similar materials for the storage, packaging, or wrapping of food is explicitly prohibited. Therefore, as per these regulations, newspapers should not be employed to cover, or serve food, nor should they be utilised to absorb excess oil from fried food.
G Kamala Vardhana Rao has called upon all food vendors to actively address this issue and prioritise the well-being of consumers. He further emphasised that FSSAI remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety of the nation’s food supply by discouraging the use of newspapers for these purposes.
According to PTI, the FSSAI is collaborating closely with state food authorities to oversee and enforce compliance with these regulations.
