Packing, Storing Food Items in Newspapers in Dangerous, Warns FSSAI

New Delhi: The packing, storing, and serving of food items using newspapers is dangerous, warned the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The FSSAI requested the food vendors and consumers to immediately stop using newspapers for packing and serving food items.

According to the FSSAI, the ink used in newspapers contains chemicals that are harmful to human health.

FSSAI report states that the printing ink may have chemicals such as lead and heavy metals that can enter the human body through the food served or wrapped in newspaper.

Added to it, 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.

The Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, prohibits the use of newspapers or similar materials for storing, packing, or wrapping food. According to the regulation, consumers and vendors must avoid using newspapers to cover or serve edible items. Newspapers should also not be used to absorb excess oil from fried foods like samosa or pakodas.