The FSSAI has taken a crucial step by issuing a directive that expresses serious concerns about the health risks related to the use of newspapers for food packaging or wrapping.(Representational Image: Wikimedia Commons) 
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Customers & Food Vendors are Asked to Stop Using Newspapers to Package, Serve, & Store Food Products

Newspaper ink contains a variety of bioactive substances with documented adverse health effects that can contaminate food and cause health problems when consumed.

MBT Desk

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken a crucial step by issuing a directive that expresses serious concerns about the health risks related to the use of newspapers for food packaging or wrapping. G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, the FSSAI's CEO, has emphasized the significance of this action, which aims to inform customers, food vendors, and other stakeholders of the possible risks caused by this widespread practice.

Newspaper ink, Mr. Rao noted, contains a variety of bioactive substances with recognized detrimental impacts on health. When these substances come into contact with food, they can contaminate it, which could cause health problems if consumed. Additionally, printing inks could contain substances like lead and heavy metals that, over time, could seep into food and pose a serious health concern.

Newspapers are frequently exposed to different environmental conditions during distribution, rendering them vulnerable to contamination by bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens, the FSSAI further emphasized. These impurities may contaminate food, possibly leading to food-borne diseases.

Consumers and food vendors across the country have been urged to immediately stop using newspapers for packing, serving, and storing food items. (Representational Image: Wikimedia Commons)

The Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, have been announced by the FSSAI in response to these worries. These regulations sternly forbid the use of newspapers or other comparable materials for food storage or packaging. These rules prohibit using newspapers to serve, wrap, or cover food. They also prohibit using them to soak up extra-fried food oil.

Newspapers are frequently exposed to different environmental conditions during distribution, rendering them vulnerable to contamination by bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens, the FSSAI further emphasized. These impurities may contaminate food, possibly leading to food-borne diseases.

The Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, have been announced by the FSSAI in response to these worries. These regulations sternly forbid the use of newspapers or other comparable materials for food storage or packaging. These rules prohibit using newspapers to serve, wrap, or cover food. They also prohibit using them to soak up extra-fried food oil.

(Rehash/Dr. Nithin GN)

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