Stop serving food on printed paper

Printed or used paper is often used to serve food in Bangladesh, especially in case of street food. Snacks such as samosa, roll, jhalmuri, bhel puri and pickles are being served and sold in such papers across the country. But is it safe for our health? Many of us may not know that consuming food served on used or printed paper is very harmful for our health. The presence of pigments, harmful colours and other chemicals can affect our health and well-being. Old paper also contains disease-causing microorganisms. Eating food served on newspaper or printed paper can cause various diseases including cancer, heart and kidney problems. So everyone should avoid eating food in such paper and be determined to keep themselves healthy. Besides, for the sake of public health, traders should also stop using such papers for serving food.

According to experts, the food items sold on used newspapers and other papers absorb chemicals from paper and act as a slow poison over time. Harmful inks are used for printing on papers. By eating food from the paper, people may contact various diseases like cancer, heart disease, and kidney ailment. Our neighbouring country, India, has banned printed paper for serving food. But it is going on unabated in our country.

The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) has recently issued a warning and asked restaurants and vendors not to use printed papers for serving oily and warm food. But not many are paying heed to the call. Selling food wrapped in paper is a punishable offence under the Food Safety Act, 2013. Our law enforcement agencies and relevant authorities should launch campaigns so that roadside vendors and restaurant owners stay away from using printed paper for serving food.

Zobayed Mustafa,

Student of Department of Public Administration,

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj,

zobayed.mustafa002@gmail.com