The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued strict nationwide directives reiterating that newspapers must not be used for wrapping, distributing, or storing food items under any circumstances. The apex food safety body stated that all food business operators, including street vendors, hotels, restaurants, and cloud kitchens, must implement this rule immediately. Officials strongly warned that wrapping or serving food in newspapers poses severe, life-threatening health risks to consumers.
The FSSAI explained that the printing ink used in newspapers contains hazardous heavy metals like lead and various other carcinogenic chemicals. When hot or oily food items such as samosas, pakoras, vadas, or bhajjis are packed in newspapers, these harmful chemicals easily leach into the food due to the heat and oil. Consuming such contaminated food over a prolonged period can trigger cancer and chronic gastrointestinal diseases, and can also adversely impact the functioning of vital organs like the kidneys and brain. The authority further clarified that newspapers should not even be used to drain excess oil from freshly fried food.
According to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, only approved ‘food-grade’ materials must be utilized for storing or supplying food products. The FSSAI emphasized that the toxic impact of printing ink chemicals is significantly faster and more severe in children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immunity. The latest enforcement drive was triggered after recent joint inspections by the FSSAI and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) caught a prominent vadapav vendor in Mumbai using newspapers. All state food safety officers have been directed to strictly monitor compliance at the ground level and penalize violators.
