Dec 21, 2016
Don’t wrap food in newspaper: FDA
Panaji: The directorate of food and drugs administration (FDA) has advised street vendors, kiosks, fast food operators, food business operators and others to refrain from wrapping eatables in newspaper. This is because newspaper ink, which contains multiple bioactive components having negative health effects, contaminates the food. Used newspapers also contain pathogenic microorganisms.
"Wrapping food in newspapers is an unhealthy practice and consumption of such food is injurious to health, even if the food was cooked hygienically. Old 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 material," read a statement issued by FDA on Wednesday.
FDA along with Nestle India Limited and National Association of Street Food vendors has trained 1,029 street food vendors in food safety and hygiene since it started a training program titled Serve Safe Food@Street Food in November. Twenty-three training sessions were held in Bambolim, Vasco, Margao, Calangute, Canacona, Curchorem, Quepem, Bicholim, Canacona, Panaji, Mapusa, etc where FDA received great support and cooperation from local bodies including the municipal council and the panchayat.
The FDA will also depute food safety officers to follow up with vendors to see if they are complying with practices highlighted during their training. Any deviation will be dealt with strictly as vendors can no longer plead ignorance.
‘Ban use of newspapers for packing food items’
Pune: Soon, local street food stalls and eateries will have to do away with stocking and packing food items in newspapers as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has decided to discourage this rampant use through targeted awareness campaign.
The highest office of food safety has accordingly urged all states and Union territories to plan campaigns to not only create awareness about the ill effects of this method of serving foods but also bring healthy practice methods of serving foods.
“It is an extremely unhealthy practice to serve food in newspaper and consumption of such foods can be hazardous to people’s health,” said a statement issued by FSSAI.
A newspaper, which contains ink and associated colour pigments, binders, additives and preservatives, can pose serious health issues if consumed with food.
“As it has been proven that exposure to these ingredients, particularly by children, elderly and those suffering from illnesses, pose a higher risk of developing cancer-related health issues, we aim at phasing out this practice,” the officials stated.
Accordingly, it has been advised that newspapers should not be used to wrap, cover, serve foods neither should it be used to absorb excess oil of fried foods.
“Steps are being planned in order to discourage the use of newspaper from the food industry or at least restrict the use in a manner, which will not pose a health hazard,” said an official from State’s Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).
Similarly, in another move, the food safety authority has also informed the beverage and cool drink manufacturers to use blue tint on bottles used in packaging as per the guidelines of the FDA.
The caffeinated beverages must strictly be within the prescribed limit of 145 mg/litre to 300 mg/litre, exceeding which, it would attract penalty.
Also, it has been made mandatory for the food industry to specify on its label the per day consumption limit.
“Often, the label does not find any special mention of children, pregnant women and lactating mothers for whom this beverage is not advised to consume. This has now been made mandatory,” added the official.
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