Authority appeals to avoid newspaper wrapped eatables
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 29 2018:
A notification issued by Designated Officer of FSA, Imphal East, has appealed to all the food business operators and consumers not to use newspaper as a packaging material as per the guidelines of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Standard Rules and Regulation 2011 .
It stated that use of newspapers for wrapping, packing and serving food/eatables is a great safety hazard which should be prevented.
Consuming foods that are wrapped in newspaper is injurious and even poisonous to health even if the food has been thoroughly cooked in a hygienic manner.
The notification maintained mat newspaper ink contains multiple bio-active materials with negative health impacts, apart from the presence of harmful colours, pigments, binders, additives and preservatives.
It also stated that newspaper, paper/cardboard boxes made of recycled paper may be contaminated with metallic contaminants, mineral oils and harmful chemicals like Phthalates, which can causes digestive problems and lead to severe toxicity.
Older people, children, teenagers and people with compromised vital organs and immune system are at greater risk of acquiring cancer-related health complaints when they are exposed to food wrapped in such materials, the notification added.