FDA Prohibits Newspapers And Cardboard Boxes for Food Packaging
Introduction
FDA has prohibited the use of cardboard boxes and newspapers because of supposed health risks. Recently FDA alerted Food Business operators regarding the dangers of using newspapers for serving or wrapping food, particularly for fried food items and cardboard boxes.
Advisory for FBOs and Public Compliance
The FDA advisory states that the FBOs and the Public are urged to refrain from using newspapers and cardboard boxes for delivering food items and failure to comply with this may result in legal action.
Licensing and Legal Consequences
In addition to this FDA has also articulated that several Food business operators work without a legitimate registration and license which is necessary for the Food Safety and Standards Act. And unlicensed food operations may face fines of up to 10 lakhs.
Health Risks Associated with Newspaper Ink
The 2023 advisory of FSSAI mentions that newspaper ink consists of several bioactive materials that can have significant negative health impacts. The ink can lead to food contamination and cause health issues if ingested.
Toxic Chemicals and Pathogens in Newspapers
Along with that, printing inks may also contain toxic chemicals such as lead and heavy metals which if ingested over time can cause serious health risks. Moreover, newspapers may contain pathogens and bacteria because of exposure to different environmental conditions at the time of distribution which increases the risk of foodborne diseases.
Potential Health Effects of Newspaper Inks
The printing ink contains elements such as Naphthylamines aromatic hydrocarbon, AhR (aryl hydrocarbon receptor) agonist, and Lead, these components can potentially lead to cardiovascular diseases, neurotoxicity, kidney issues, and various cancers.
Prohibition under Packaging Regulations
As per the authorities, the use of newspapers for the packaging of food is prohibited under the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018.
Source:
1. Inputs from various media SourcesÂ
2. Health Risks of Newspaper Ink when Used as Food Packaging Material | Letters in Applied Bioscience | DOI: https://doi.org/10.33263/LIANBS103.26142623
3. FSSAI strongly urges consumers and food vendors to immediately stop using newspaper for packing or serving food items | Press ReleaseÂ
