Food businesses must stop using metallic pins, wires in food packaging immediately: FSSAI
New Delhi, June 12
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on Friday directed food business operators to immediately discontinue the use of metallic pins, staple pins, wires or similar materials for sealing, fastening, securing or packaging food items, saying such practices pose a serious risk to consumer safety.
In an advisory issued to food businesses, the food regulator said it had come to its notice that metallic pins and wires are being used in decorative cakes as well as for fastening food packets, cake boxes, sweet boxes, snack pouches, takeaway food parcels and other food packages.
FSSAI said several instances have been reported where metallic or staple pins were found embedded in or attached to cakes and food packages.
Such cases create a significant food safety hazard as consumers may inadvertently ingest the metallic objects, leading to injuries and other adverse health consequences.
The regulator directed all food business operators to immediately stop using metallic pins, wires or any similar materials for sealing, fastening, securing or packaging any food item, bakery product, takeaway meal, snack packet or food parcel.
"FSSAI has directed FBOs to immediately discontinue the use of metallic pins/wires or any other such material for sealing, fastening, securing or packaging any food item, food parcel, takeaway meal, or any other food item or package failing which appropriate action shall be taken," it said.
According to the advisory, failure to comply with the directive could attract appropriate penal action under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the regulations framed under it.
The advisory was issued with the approval of the competent authority and signed by Dr Amit Sharma, Executive Director (Compliance Strategy) at FSSAI.
The move is aimed at strengthening food safety standards and preventing avoidable risks to consumers arising from the use of metallic fastening materials in food packaging and handling.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While this is a good step, I hope it's actually enforced properly. We see these rules every now and then but ground reality is different. Local bakeries and sweet shops still use pins for boxes. The real challenge will be implementation in smaller towns and villages.
In the UK, we've moved to tamper-evident seals and plastic clips for most food packaging years ago. It's good to see India taking consumer safety seriously now. Hopefully this will force the industry to innovate with safer alternatives.
As someone who works in a bakery, I can tell you this is a real issue. Many places use pins to attach decoration or close boxes because it's cheap and quick. But there are better alternatives now - eco-friendly tape, clips, and even edible glue for cakes. The switch is not that hard if FSSAI gives clear guidelines.
This is a no-brainer! Metallic objects in food is unacceptable anywhere in the world. I'm from Canada and we've had strict rules on this for decades. Glad India is catching up. But the real test will be in street food vendors and smaller operations - they need proper training and affordable alternatives.
I appreciate the effort but why only now? This should have been addressed years ago. I've personally had to remove pins from cake boxes multiple times. The worst is when they use those tiny wire staples that you can't even see properly. At least now we have a clear directive 👍
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