New Delhi, June 12 (IANS). The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Friday directed Food Business Operators (FBOs) to stop using metal pins, staple pins, wires and other similar items for packing and securing food products with immediate effect, as it poses a threat to the safety of customers.
The food regulator said it has come to light that along with decorating cakes, metal pins and wires are also being used to pack food packets, cake boxes, sweet boxes, snack pouches, takeaway food parcels and other food packages.
FSSAI has said that many such cases have come to light in which metal pieces or staple pins have been found in cakes and food packets.
Such cases pose a major threat to food safety as customers may unknowingly consume these metal items, causing injury or adverse health effects.
The regulator directed all food business operators to immediately stop using metal pins, wires or the like for sealing, joining, securing or packing any food item, bakery product, takeaway meal, snack packet or food parcel.
Also, FSSAI said that appropriate action will be taken against any food business operator who does not follow this instruction.
According to the advisory, if this instruction is not followed, appropriate punitive action can be taken as per the provisions of ‘Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006’ and the rules made thereunder.
The move aims to strengthen food safety standards and prevent unnecessary risks to consumers from the use of metal fastening materials in food packaging and handling.
–IANS
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