The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has warned food shops and establishments throughout the nation to cease wrapping or serving food with newspapers, claiming that doing so poses significant health risks.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that the advisory comes after a recent event in Mumbai where a vadapav hawker was seen wrapping and serving food in newspapers.

In the wake of the incident, the FSSAI’s West Region and the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) took coordinated action and gave instructions to prevent similar behaviors throughout the city and region.

The food safety regulator stated that printing inks used in newspapers contain hazardous chemicals, pigments, binders, and heavy metals, such as lead, which can leach into food when it comes into touch with hot or greasy goods.

It further stated that newspapers may transmit microorganisms that might lead to foodborne diseases since they are frequently exposed to unsanitary conditions during distribution and handling.

The FSSAI reaffirmed that the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations of 2018 expressly forbid the use of newspapers or comparable unapproved materials for the preservation, wrapping, or delivery of food.

The advisory applies to all food establishments, including street sellers, restaurants, cloud kitchens, caterers, quick service restaurants, hawkers, and mobile food vendors, who have been instructed to only utilize safe and food-grade packaging materials.

Additionally, FSSAI advised consumers to be cautious and to avoid eating items that were served or wrapped in newspapers.

In addition to promoting safe and sustainable packaging solutions in the food industry, FSSAI and state agencies are maintaining surveillance and enforcement in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The food safety authority sent a statutory notice to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) in May after a video posted on social media claimed that Train No. 12223 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT)-Ernakulam (ERS) Duronto Express’s utensils were handled in an unsanitary manner.