Earlier a number of studies have shown that wrapping food in newspapers is very unhealthy and unsafe for consumption.

Now, the Food, Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) is echoing the same thoughts and warning that such unhealthy practice can be injurious to health even if the food is prepared in a safe and hygienic manner.

Since the ink used in newspapers has multiple bioactive materials with known negative health effects can easily leached into foods wrapped or served in them, it poses a potential risk to human health when consumed. Also, the solvent used to dissolve ink on the paper can be potentially carcinogenic.

“Wrapping food in newspapers is an unhealthy practice and the consumption of such food is injurious to health, even if the food has been cooked hygienically,” the Food, Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) said in an advisory.

“Printing inks may also contain harmful colours, pigments, binders, additives, and preservatives. Besides chemical contaminants, presence of pathogenic micro organisms in used newspapers also poses potential risk to human health,” the advisory said.

The advisory also said that even paper/cardboard boxes made of recycled paper may be contaminated with harmful chemicals like phthalate 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, if they are exposed to food packed in such material,” the advisory warned.

The advisory comes after Health Minister JP Nadda’s directions to the food regulatory authority against the practice of wrapping and covering food items in newspapers in India.

Speaking in this regard JP Nadda said: “It has been observed that vendors have been using newspapers in packing and serving food, which is harmful. I urge the public to dissuade the vendors from doing so.”

According to the advisory, the Commissioners of Food Safety of all States/Union Territories will initiate systematic campaigns for generating awareness among all the stakeholders to discourage the use of newspapers for packing, serving and storing food items.

If you need something to absorb or soak excessive oil from fried foods, try using either tissue paper or kitchen paper towels. If you must, opt for white plain papers instead of newspapers.

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