FSSAI urges avoiding newspaper for meals packaging, citing well being dangers. Photo Credit: iStock

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has urged meals distributors and customers to cease utilizing newspapers for packing, storing, and serving meals objects, with rapid impact. Reportedly, the meals regulator mentioned that the ink utilized in newspapers accommodates sure chemical compounds that may pose numerous well being dangers. FSSAI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) G Kamala Vardhana Rao “strongly urged consumers and food vendors across the country to immediately stop using newspapers for packing, serving, and storing food items”, reads a PTI report.

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Why You Should Avoid Wrapping Food In Newspaper? What Are The Health Risks Involved?

G Kamala Vardhana Rao additional highlighted the dangers related to utilizing newspapers to wrap and pack meals objects. According to FSSAI, the printing ink accommodates “various bioactive materials” that may be dangerous to well being. “The ink used in newspapers contains various bioactive materials with known negative health effects, which can contaminate food and lead to health issues when ingested,” Mr. Rao mentioned.

The report additional reads that the ink might have chemical compounds similar to lead and heavy metals that may enter the human physique by way of the meals served or wrapped in newspaper. “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 warned.

The meals regulatory physique has additionally notified the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, which prohibits the usage of newspapers or comparable supplies for storing, packing, or wrapping food. According to the regulation, customers and distributors should keep away from utilizing newspapers to cowl or serve edible objects. Newspapers also needs to not be used to soak up extra oil from fried meals like samosa or pakodas.

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The PTI report states that FSSAI is now working intently with the state meals authorities to ensure that newspapers are usually not utilized by anybody to serve or pack meals.

G Kamala Vardhana Rao, whereas issuing the warning, said that by discouraging the usage of newspapers and selling safer options, FSSAI is reaffirming its dedication to making sure the security of meals equipped within the nation.