FSSAI Sounds Alarm: Why Newspaper Packaging May Be Contaminating Food, Sabotaging Your Health

India’s food safety regulator has renewed its warning against a common practice still seen at many street food stalls and eateries: wrapping food in newspapers. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently reiterated that newspapers should never be used for packing, serving, or storing food, citing serious concerns about chemical contamination and microbial exposure. The warning follows enforcement action against a popular vada pav vendor in Mumbai and serves as a reminder that a seemingly harmless packaging habit could pose hidden health risks. Experts say that when food comes into contact with newsprint, harmful chemicals and disease-causing microbes may transfer directly onto what we eat.Also read: AYUSH Warns Against

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Why is newspaper packaging unsafe?

Experts say the primary concern lies with the ink used in newspaper printing. The newspaper ink is a complex mixture of solvents, pigments, binders, and additives that contains heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and chromium, as well as mineral oils, phthalates, and synthetic dyes. While these substances are intended for printing, they are not designed for direct food contact. Yet when food is wrapped in newspapers, especially hot or oily snacks, these chemicals can migrate into the food and eventually enter the body.

How do chemicals transfer into food?

Popular Indian street foods like vada pav, samosas, or pakoras, along with other fried snacks, are often served piping hot. This creates ideal conditions for chemical migration. And when hot and oily foods come into contact with newsprint, the heat and fats act as solvents, allowing chemicals from the ink to move into the food. This process becomes even more concerning when food remains wrapped for extended periods, increasing the opportunity for contaminants to seep through the paper.

Potential long-term health risks

According to doctors, repeated exposure to these chemicals may have cumulative effects over time. Lead and other heavy metals have been linked to:

• Nervous system damage
• Kidney dysfunction
• Developmental problems in children
• Learning and cognitive difficulties
• Behavioural disorders

Apart from this, a few chemicals found in printing inks are suspected carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. These substances may interfere with hormone function and could potentially increase the risk of metabolic disorders and certain cancers after long-term exposure. Although occasional exposure may not cause immediate illness, regular consumption of contaminated food raises significant public health concerns.

Newspapers carry harmful germs

The danger is not limited to chemicals. Newspapers can also become contaminated with bacteria, viruses, dust, and environmental pollutants during their journey from printing press to consumer. Potential pathogens that may be present on newspaper surfaces include Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Norovirus, and Hepatitis A virus. When food comes into contact with contaminated paper, these microbes can transfer to the food and increase the risk of foodborne illness.

Safer alternatives for food packaging

To protect consumers, FSSAI recommends using certified food-grade materials instead of newspapers. Safer options include

• Food-grade butter paper
• Certified food-contact paper packaging
• Food-grade cardboard containers
• Bagasse containers made from sugarcane fibre
• Traditional banana leaves
• Sal-leaf plates

Experts also caution that recycled paper is not always safe, as it may contain residual inks and chemicals from previous uses. Newspaper-wrapped food may evoke nostalgia, but health experts and regulators agree that the practice carries unnecessary risks. From toxic ink chemicals to disease-causing microbes, newspapers are not designed for food contact. As FSSAI strengthens enforcement, consumers and food vendors alike are being urged to switch to approved food-grade packaging materials that protect both food quality and public health.