Plea moved against use of newspapers for packing food

Passing interim orders in this regard, a division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad, directed additional Government pleader E Manoharan to ascertain the steps taken by the State Government for the effective implementation of the guidelines issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

The bench also directed the Government pleader to ascertain steps taken for bringing about awareness of not using newspapers as food packaging material.

The bench also recorded the FSSAI’s guidelines issued on December 6, 2016, which stated that Indians were being slowly poisoned due to newspaper being widely used as food packaging material by small hotels, vendors and in homes instead of absorbent paper.

The guidelines pointed out that foods contaminated by newspaper ink raise serious health concerns, as the ink contains multiple bioactive materials with known negative health effects. Printing inks may also contain harmful colors, pigments, binders, additives, and preservatives. Besides chemical contaminants, presence of pathogenic microorganisms in used newspapers also pose potential risk to human health, FSSAI guidelines said.

Also, noting that there was an urgent need to discourage the use of newspaper as food packaging material by creating awareness among businesses, especially unorganised food sellers, and consumers on its harmful effects, the guidelines also directed the Commissioners of Food Safety of all States/UTs to initiate a systematic campaign for generating awareness amongst all stakeholders to discourage the use of newspapers for packing, serving or storing of food items.

The petitioner contended that newspaper and plastic bags are being used for wrapping/ packing/serving food products and that the food safety and standards are not scrupulously followed as per the guidelines issued by it. The plea is set to be taken up for further hearing on Friday.