Food Safety Commissionerate on Tuesday banned the use of newspapers to pack food in eight districts. According to the advisory, ink used in newspapers could cause cancer and should not come in contact with the food.
According to the FSSAI, the chemicals in printing ink contain harmful colours, pigments, additives and preservatives. A risk analysis by the food regulator has found that the presence of chemical contaminants and pathogenic micro-organisms in used newspaper poses potential risk to human health. Older people, children and people with compromised vital organs and immune systems are at a greater risk of acquiring cancer-related complications if they are exposed to food packed in such material.
“The storage, distribution or sale of food articles wrapped or packed in newspapers and other printed material or serving food in newspaper or in other printed material by Food Business Operators in the jurisdiction of Bruhath Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubbali-Dharwad, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Ballari and Tumakuru city corporation limits is prohibited for one year,” said the order.
This was issued under Section 30 (2) (a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which enables the commissioner to prohibit in the interest of public health, the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of any article of food, either in the whole of the State or any area, not exceeding one year.
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