New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued a nationwide warning to food vendors, restaurant owners, and street food operators, banning the packaging or serving of food items in newspapers with immediate effect. The food safety regulator stated that consuming popular street foods like vada pav, samosas, or chaat wrapped in newspaper poses severe health risks to consumers. This strict directive follows a recent joint enforcement action taken by the Western Zone of the food authority and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation against a highly popular vada pav vendor in Mumbai who was caught serving food in newsprint.
The central regulatory authority clarified that using newspapers to wrap or store food is a direct violation of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations of 2018. Under these guidelines, the use of printed paper for food contact is legally prohibited due to the significant risk of chemical contamination. Moving forward, state food safety departments will conduct regular monitoring and surprise inspections across markets to ensure compliance, and any vendor found violating the mandate will face strict legal action under the Food Safety Act.
Health experts and regulators highlighted that the ink used in printing newspapers contains a dangerous cocktail of harmful chemicals, dyes, pigments, and heavy metals like lead. When hot or greasy food is placed on the paper, the heat melts the chemical ink, causing it to leach directly into the meal. Continuous consumption of food contaminated with printing ink leads to a gradual accumulation of toxins in the human body, which can trigger chronic health complications over time.
The ban applies uniformly across the entire hospitality and informal food sector, including cloud kitchens, caterers, fast-food chains, mobile food trucks, and small roadside stalls. The regulatory body has also urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid purchasing food from vendors who disregard these safety rules. Consumers are encouraged to report any non-compliant eateries to local food safety authorities to help eradicate this hazardous practice from the food ecosystem.
