- FSSAI has banned use of newspapers for wrapping and packing of food items
- In India, use of newspapers for wrapping and packing of food items is a common practice followed by small corner shops and street vendors.
- However, it can cause serious health concerns due contaminate food items by newspaper ink.
- Printing ink used for printing newspapers may contain bioactive materials, harmful pigments, colours, additives, binders, preservatives, chemical contaminants and even pathogenic microorganisms that may pose potential risk to human health.
- Even newspaper or cardboard boxes made of recycled paper may be contaminated with mineral oils, metallic contaminants and harmful chemicals like phthalates which can cause digestive problems and also lead to severe toxicity.
- Older people, teenagers, children and people with compromised vital organs and immune systems are at a greater risk of acquiring cancer-related health complications after they are exposed to food items packed in such materials