New Delhi [India], March 2: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has instructed the Karnataka State Food Safety Department to submit a report on the practice of using plastic sheets in the steaming process of idlis at certain food joints in the state.
This directive follows serious concerns regarding the potential health risks posed by the use of plastic sheets during food preparation. The FSSAI highlighted the dangers of leaching harmful chemicals from plastic into the food, especially when non-food-grade plastics are exposed to high temperatures.
G Kamala VardhanaRao, CEO of FSSAI, emphasized, “The use of low-quality or non-food-grade plastics in food preparation, particularly under high temperatures, poses a serious health risk.” He stressed the importance of food safety regulations to ensure public health is safeguarded.
This move from FSSAI comes just days after the Karnataka health department issued a ban on the use of plastic in idli preparation across hotels and restaurants following an investigation. The health department tested 251 idli samples, of which 51 were found to be contaminated due to plastic use.
Authorities warned that plastics like bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, and other harmful chemicals could leach into food when subjected to high heat, potentially leading to adverse health effects such as cancer.
The State Food Safety Department has been urged to take immediate action and enforce strict penalties on food business operators found violating food safety standards. FSSAI has assured that it is working closely with Karnataka authorities to ensure stringent enforcement of food safety norms.
Earlier, Karnataka’s Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had taken to social media to announce the ban, citing the risks of toxic chemicals from plastic sheets leaching into food. He urged the public to be mindful of the dangers posed by such practices, stressing the government’s commitment to protecting public health.