Raipur, State Government’s Food and Drug Administration Department has appealed to people and food vendors to avoid using newspapers for wrapping or packaging food items, as the ink used in newspapers contains many hazardous chemicals and dyes. If any food vendor/business refuses to abide by the aforementioned guidelines, despite the repeated warnings, then he should be reported to the Food and Drug Administration Department.
Officials of the Food and Drug Administration Department said that newspapers are an important source of information in daily life. And because of the minimal cost, street food vendors often use newspapers for wrapping/packaging food products as parcels, while common people use it to remove excess oil from deep fried food. This practice is hazardous to health, as the harmful chemicals and dyes of the newspaper ink affects the quality of the food, which upon consumption leads to several serious health problems like digestive disorders, toxicity, various types of cancer, failure of vital organs and weakening of the immune system.
The Food and Drug Administration Department has appealed to the food vendors/traders/businesses not to use newspapers for wrapping/packaging eatables at food stalls. The food traders/vendors/businesses found using newspapers to parcel food items should be informed about its side effects, and should be advised not to do so. If despite several warnings the vendor does not abide by the instructions, then complaint against the defiant vendor should registered at the office of Controller, Food and Drug Administration Block-1, 4th Floor, Indravati Bhawan, Atal Nagar Nava Raipur, telephone number 0771-2235226, fax number 2511988 and email id controllerraipur@gmail.com.
