The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has a project for detection and analysis Microplastic pollution In GroceriesThe initiative launched in March this year entitled ‘Micro- and nanoplastics as emerging food contaminants: introducing validated methods and understanding their distribution in different food matrices’ aims to directly address this new threat.
The FSSAI project aims to develop and validate analytical methods to identify micro- and nanoplastics in various food products while determining their distribution and contamination across India. The aim of the study is to establish standard protocols for the analysis of micro- and nanoplastics, conduct inter-laboratory comparisons and provide important data on consumer exposure to these contaminants.
This initiative is a collaborative effort of leading research institutes including CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research in Lucknow, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology in Kochi and Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani. The project highlights the urgency of the problem, especially in light of the recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) pointing to the presence of microplastics in common food items such as sugar and salt.
“While the report highlights the global prevalence of microplastics, it also stresses the need for more robust data to fully understand the impacts on humans. Health and security, especially in the Indian context,” the FSSAI said in an official statement.
The FSSAI initiative aims not only to improve food safety in India but also to contribute valuable data to the global discourse on microplastic pollution. The findings from this project will guide regulatory action and help in formulating effective safety standards to protect public health.
By focusing on this issue, FSSAI reaffirms its commitment to providing Indian consumers with access to safe and healthy food while addressing a significant global challenge.
The FSSAI project aims to develop and validate analytical methods to identify micro- and nanoplastics in various food products while determining their distribution and contamination across India. The aim of the study is to establish standard protocols for the analysis of micro- and nanoplastics, conduct inter-laboratory comparisons and provide important data on consumer exposure to these contaminants.
This initiative is a collaborative effort of leading research institutes including CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research in Lucknow, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology in Kochi and Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani. The project highlights the urgency of the problem, especially in light of the recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) pointing to the presence of microplastics in common food items such as sugar and salt.
“While the report highlights the global prevalence of microplastics, it also stresses the need for more robust data to fully understand the impacts on humans. Health and security, especially in the Indian context,” the FSSAI said in an official statement.
The FSSAI initiative aims not only to improve food safety in India but also to contribute valuable data to the global discourse on microplastic pollution. The findings from this project will guide regulatory action and help in formulating effective safety standards to protect public health.
By focusing on this issue, FSSAI reaffirms its commitment to providing Indian consumers with access to safe and healthy food while addressing a significant global challenge.
