Toluene Free Packaging declaration needed
I have heard that the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) recently decided to restrict use of toluene, titanium acetylacetonate and phthalates in printing of packaging materials used for food products.
Would like to see FSSAI come up with a notification where packaged food brands say from Sep 1, 2019 can declare on the package "Toluene Free Packging"
Otherwise there is no way for consumer to know and like hundreds of other rules no one will comply
For those who dont know much about this, Toluene is a chemical that is used in paint thinners. Even with various layers between the packet and the food item, toluene is known to permeate into the food. It can potentially cause liver and kidney damage. Although it has been banned across the food industry, it is a widely used packaging material in the country! more
Would like to see FSSAI come up with a notification where packaged food brands say from Sep 1, 2019 can declare on the package "Toluene Free Packging"
Otherwise there is no way for consumer to know and like hundreds of other rules no one will comply
For those who dont know much about this, Toluene is a chemical that is used in paint thinners. Even with various layers between the packet and the food item, toluene is known to permeate into the food. It can potentially cause liver and kidney damage. Although it has been banned across the food industry, it is a widely used packaging material in the country! more
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The laws/rules framed for safe packaging material for eatables/consumables should be given wider publicity and the regulators should ensure implementation at ground level. But in India, majority of such laws/rules remain on papers only as due to non-accountability and corruption, the officials rarely check/test such materials at manufacturing/retail level. The officials of concerned departments should be made accountable for any lapse/laxity under their jurisdiction. more
May 16
In a vast country like ours, often times Regulations take a back seat as vendors (uneducated) look for cheap,convenient and out of the Toulene ideas to save pennies. You would be surprised that Hot Tea is poured into polythene bags (maybe of higher gauge withstanding heat). Many hawkers have mushroomed all over Delhi selling "Biryani's" and the take-away is often packed in plastic containers, aluminium foil package. I have noticed many printed packages (overseas brand) whose insides have aluminium insulation. These packages are of either drug/chemical companies or home use items but these effectively double for vendors to sell their foods as take-aways. The bright side is that these experiments and interventions give good business to the Hospitals. more
May 16
fssai has notified that it is working on comprehensive food packaging regulations for all kind of food packaging materials such as plastics, glass, paper, metal, printing inks, etc. This is expected to be announced soon and it will align with the existing Indian Standards also. After the announcement the voluntary ISI standards will also become mandatory resulting in mandatory compliance certification for packaging manufacturers by both fssai and ISI for their respective standards. more
May 16
