By looking at the modern lifestyle, we get a clear idea that people have accepted packaged food in today’s society. There is a misconception that packaged food is free from all kinds of germs, but the Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), has brought a revelation that is hard-to-digest for this generation. The country’s top food regulator has stated that the presence of hazardous material contaminates food items. Eventually, it will bring many lives under the shackles of perilous health problems and diseases. The FSSAI is continuously putting efforts in the direction of raising the bar for food safety in India.
In the year 2018, the FSSAI has formulated strict regulations to upgrade the food packaging standards as well as the lifestyle of people. The Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI)[1] has acknowledged the fact that food packaging plays a crucial role in the food sector. Therefore, the statutory authority is keeping packaging and labeling under separate regulations.
As per the directions given by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India(FSSAI), food business operators should prohibit the use of newspapers, magazine pages, plastic, and other materials of the same type for packing foodstuffs.
A brief Take on the Concept of Packaging
In the food sector, packaging has gathered everyone’s attention as it promotes food safety and ensures the protection of consumer’s health. If the packaging is good, the risk of food adulteration is likely to be negligible. Packaging must be tamper-proof in order to prevent contamination of food. Furthermore, it ensures that quality-rich products would reach the consumer’s door. Good packaging also ensures that there won’t be any change in the composition of the food.
Plastic recycling generates revenue along with the substantial economic boost that it provides.
However, given below are the disadvantages of plastic recycling-
Disadvantages of Plastic Recycling
- Due to the engagement of separate factories in the process of plastic recycling of heaps of garbage, pollution would increase at an alarming rate.
- Plastic recycling affects the environment as it releases VOCs into the atmosphere that may deteriorate the quality of life for plants as well as animals.
- During the process of plastic recycling, harmful chemicals get released and will contaminate the earth and the environment.
- It’s a myth that plastic recycling would generate quality food products. Sometimes, it produces some elements that leech the food stored in a plastic container and make it unfit for consumption by human beings.
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Highlights of FSSAI Regulations regarding Packaging
FSSAI has raised its hat to the fact that packaging is necessary for advancing food safety and security. In regard to food safety and consumer protection, FSSAI has clear the things to all the food business operators that they must comply with all the relevant regulations and guidelines.
- New packaging regulations have prescribed limits for overall migration as well as specific migration of contaminants regarding the packaging of plastic materials.
- Packaging norms by FSSAI prohibit the use of packaging material made by plastic recycling method. The use of carry-bags prepared by the recycled plastics should get stopped.
- In view of the point that inks and dyes can be the reason behind Cancer formation, the regulations ban the use of newspaper and plastic items for food packaging.
- The regulation has also presented a suggestive list of packing materials for various categories of the food product.
Wise Words on the Packaging
In an official statement, the outgoing CEO of FSSAI, Pawan Kumar Agarwal, said that “The new packaging regulation is going to transport the bar of food safety in India to another level.”
Studies Conducted by FSSAI in Collaboration
In collaboration with National Test House, Kolkata and Indian Institute of Packaging, Mumbai, the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) have conducted studies in the past. Studies report suggest that the packaging material used by the organized sector is not a matter of worry at all, but the unorganized sector is creating troubles.
The focus of the study was on checking the presence of heavy metals along with chemical contamination in food.
Different Regulations for Labeling and Packaging
Taking into account the packaging value in the food industry, along with its impact on food safety, the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has separated the regulations for labeling and packaging.
Summing Up
The FSSAI regulations came into effect from the 1st of July, 2019. According to the FSSAI new packaging norms, all food business companies have to stop wrapping or storing food using recycled plastic, paper sheets, and magazines. FSSAI has made amendments in many provisions related to packaging.
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