New Delhi. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched a new project to assess microplastics in food and develop methods for its detection. The move comes after a recent study titled “Microplastics in Salt and Sugar”. The study was conducted by environmental research organisation Toxics Link and tested 10 types of salt and sugar samples. The study found the presence of microplastics in all salt and sugar samples, which were in various forms such as fibres, pellets, films and fragments. The size of these microplastics ranged from 0.1 mm to 5 mm.
FSSAI said in its statement, “While global studies have highlighted the presence of microplastics in various food items, it is essential to generate specific and reliable data for India. This project will help in understanding the extent of microplastic contamination in Indian food items and in formulating effective regulations and standards to protect public health.”
According to the Toxic Link study, iodised salt had the highest amount of microplastics (89.15 pieces per kg), while organic rock salt had the lowest (6.70 pieces per kg). In sugar samples, the amount of microplastics ranged from 11.85 to 68.25 pieces per kg, with non-organic sugar recording the highest amount.
FSSAI Launches Project to Address Microplastic Contamination in Indian Food
New FSSAI Initiative Aims to Develop Detection Methods and Assess Prevalence of Microplastics in Indian Food
Read here: https://t.co/KnAxtL3EtZ@MoHFW_INDIA
— PIB India (@PIB_India) August 18, 2024
The project, launched by FSSAI in March, aims to develop standard protocols for the analysis of micro and nano plastics, conduct comparative studies across laboratories, and generate crucial data on exposure levels of micro plastics among consumers. The study is being implemented in collaboration with leading research institutes across the country, including CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (Lucknow), ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (Kochi), and Birla Institute of Technology and Science (Pilani).
