Despite the ban on use of polythene bags for storage and transport of goods meeting with little success, the Centre is now restricting the use of newspapers for wrapping and packing of food items, a common practice by small corner shops and street vendors.
Calling it a health hazard, Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Thursday tweeted, “I request public to dissuade the vendors from using newspapers in packing and serving food & we have also issued an advisory to this effect.”
Nadda posted the circular issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that has directed the commissioners of food safety of all States and Union territories to take necessary steps to restrict the use of newspapers for packing, serving and storing of food items as the newspaper ink can contaminate food items leading to serious health concerns.
“Indians are being slowly poisoned due to newspapers being widely used as food packaging material by small hotels, vendors and also in homes in lieu of absorbent paper,” the regulator said adding that “Older people, teenagers, children and people with compromised vital organs and immune systems are at a greater risk of acquiring cancer-related health complications, if they are exposed to food packed in such materials.”
According to estimates by the Union Housing ministry, in 2014 there were 10 million street vendors, mostly in cities.
“Newspapers should not be used to wrap, cover and serve food or to absorb excess oil from fried food. Even paper or cardboard boxes made of recycled paper may be contaminated with metallic contaminants, mineral oils and harmful chemicals like phthalates which can cause digestive problems and also lead to severe toxicity,” it added.