The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has urged food vendors and food establishments across the country to stop using newspapers for wrapping, storing or serving food, warning that the practice poses serious health risks to consumers.
The advisory comes after a recent incident in Mumbai in which a vadapav vendor was found using newspapers to pack and serve food. Following the incident, FSSAI’s West Region office, in coordination with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), initiated action and issued directions aimed at discouraging the use of newspapers for food packaging across the city and surrounding areas.
According to FSSAI, printing inks used in newspapers contain chemicals, pigments, binders and heavy metals, including lead. These substances can migrate into food, particularly when newspapers come into contact with hot, oily or moist food items.
The regulator also noted that newspapers are often exposed to unhygienic conditions during printing, transportation, distribution and handling. As a result, they may carry contaminants and pathogens capable of causing foodborne illnesses.
FSSAI reiterated that the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, prohibit the use of newspapers and other unapproved materials for storing, wrapping or serving food products.
The advisory applies to all categories of food businesses, including street food vendors, restaurants, cloud kitchens, caterers, quick-service restaurants, hawkers and mobile food vendors. These establishments have been instructed to use only food-grade and approved packaging materials.
In addition to advising food businesses, FSSAI has urged consumers to remain vigilant and avoid purchasing or consuming food that is wrapped or served in newspapers.
The regulator said surveillance and enforcement activities under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, will continue, while authorities also promote safer and more sustainable packaging alternatives within the food sector.
The advisory follows another recent intervention by the regulator. In May, FSSAI issued a statutory notice to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) over allegations of unhygienic handling of utensils aboard Train No. 12223 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Ernakulam Duronto Express after a video of the incident circulated on social media.
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