Stopping use of printed papers to serve food

Using printed and used paper to serve food is a common practice in Bangladesh, especially for 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? 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 contract 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 paper for serving food.

Afroza Sheikh,
Dania, Dhaka,
ilcbd2008@gmail.com