The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a strict warning to all food businesses across the country, including hotels, restaurants, bakeries, and food vendors.
The regulator has directed them to immediately stop using metal pins, stapler pins, and wires in food packaging.
This move comes in the interest of public health and aims to make food packaging safer for consumers.
Why FSSAI has issued this warning
FSSAI has observed that many food businesses are still using metal pins and wires to seal food items, decorate cakes, or close packets and boxes.
These include cake boxes, sweet boxes, snack packets, and takeaway food parcels.
The regulator has found several cases where pins were accidentally found inside food items.
This creates a serious safety risk for consumers who may unknowingly swallow them, leading to injury or health complications.
Because of these risks, FSSAI has called this practice unsafe and unacceptable.
What food businesses are now required to stop
According to the official directive, all food business operators must immediately stop using any kind of metal pins, staplers, or wires for:
Sealing or closing food packets
Packaging takeaway meals
Closing bakery items like cake and sweet boxes
Packing snacks or ready-to-eat food items
Any form of food packaging or joining materials
The rule applies to all types of food businesses without exception.
Strict action for non-compliance
FSSAI has also made it clear that this rule is not optional.
Any food business that fails to follow the directive can face strict legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
This includes penalties and other enforcement measures depending on the severity of the violation.
What this means for consumers
For customers, this decision is aimed at making packaged food safer and reducing the risk of accidental injury.
Going forward, food packaging is expected to shift towards safer materials that do not pose any physical harm, ensuring better hygiene and safety standards across the industry.
