FDA in Maharashtra asks vendors not to wrap food items in newspapers

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Maharashtra has issued an order on Wednesday asking food vendors not to wrap any eatables in newspapers while selling them to customers as the ink used for printing is harmful.

“In 2016, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued pan-India advisory, banning newspapers to be used for wrapping food items,” shared Shivaji Desai, Joint Commissioner, FDA by adding that they received complaints that the use of newspapers by vendors is still on. Therefore, in order to create awareness, the FDA has issued this order.

Directing the vendors to stop giving food items like 'vada pav', 'poha', sweets, and others wrapped in newspapers to customers, the FDA also warned of a strict action if the practice is not stopped.

"While giving a food parcel, the vendors often wrap the items in a newspaper. Since the ink used for printing the newspapers is made up of chemicals, offering hot food items like vada pav, pohe, fritters, bhel, bakery products and several other such food items, wrapped in newspapers can be dangerous," shared FDA in the statement.

"The vendors should stop wrapping the eatable in newspapers immediately or else strict action will be taken," it added.