Stop using newspapers to wrap food items; appeals FSSAI

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has appealed to the food vendors to avoid use of newspapers to wrap food items. Those found using newspapers shall be liable for fine. The information was released by the FSSAI Pune office today.

It is observed that the many food vendors often use newspaper to pack items such as vadapav, Pohe and many other items in newspaper.

The newspaper ink is made from a chemical (di-isobutyl phthalate and di-n-butyl phthalate) which is used in priting newspaper. It is harmful for the body when this chemical based ink gets in contact with food.

S S Desai, assistant commissioner, FSSAI Pune said, ‘All food providing vendors selling items such as vadapav, bhaji, bhel, restaurants, sweet mart, hotels and bakeries, should immediately stop selling food items wrapped in newspaper or face action under the FSSAI guidelines.’