A bite of your meal should never end up with a bit of blood. With that in mind, the FSSAI has told food business operators to put an immediate stop to using any kind of metal pin or wire to seal up their wares. In the regulator’s view, it is a risk to the consumer that has to be put to rest.
What set this in motion
We have had reports of staple and metal pins making their way into or onto food and its packaging. The FSSAI points out that if one of these is downed by mistake, it can do some damage to the mouth, throat or further down the line.
It is a hazard, plain and simple. And as the regulator will tell you, the problem is that a pin or a piece of wire can be all but invisible when it is part of a pack’s design or tucks into a fold. You can’t have that level of risk.
Now every bit of packaging is being looked at
The FSSAI has put a finger on where the issue lies: from holding a cake box together to putting a clip on a snack bag, or even for show on a cake. It is not just a few places; the agency has seen it done all over the industry.
People like to eat on the run. A hidden wire can go unnoticed until it is too late. This is a hazard that could be avoided and one the advisory says needs to be taken out of the supply chain.
The order and who it is for
Put simply, the FSSAI has made it known: no more metallic pins, wires or anything of the sort to put a lid on your food. Whether it is a sweet, a bakery item or a takeaway, the directive is in place.
To be clear on what is off-limits, the regulator has listed the following:
– The boxes for cakes and confections from your local bakery
– Your average snack packet or a parcel of food to go
– Cakes with some decoration and other bakery fare
– Any and all other food packages in the trade
This is effective now. There is no time for a slow phase-out when the consumer is at risk.
What happens if you don’t
The FSSAI has put some muscle behind this. They have made it clear that those who don’t get with the program will be penalised under the 2006 Food Safety and Standards Act and the rules that come with it. It applies to any operation still using the old ways.
This isn’t some polite nudge. By tying it to the law, the FSSAI is making it a binding order. Expect to be checked as the authorities work to clear the decks of any danger in the kitchen or on the shelf.
How it affects you from here on in
Operators are being told to make room for packaging that won’t put anyone in harm’s way. Have a look at how you are closing up a pouch or presenting a cake and put in some alternatives that are up to code.
It is all part of building back some confidence in the food we buy and take out. The goal is to make for a safer experience without having to change what is on the plate.
For the industry, it is a no-brainer: have the eater’s back. Ditching the metal is an easy way to be on the safe side. Those who don’t will not only face a fine but some heat from the public.
So the FSSAI is laying down the law and testing your reputation at the same time. It is time to check your lines, get the word to your people and put in place what is needed to be in line with the new rules.
