May 15, 2013

Dangerous practice

HEALTH HAZARD:Packing hot tea in polythene packets that are not meant for packing food items is dangerous. But, this is common practice in Coimbatore tea stalls. R. Kathiravan, Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing), says polythene reacts to high temperature by emitting styrene and bisphenol-A that are suspected to be carcinogenic and neurotoxic. They can cause cardiac and kidney problems, cancer and infertility. Packing of hot rice and other food materials like sambar and rasam will also have the same effect. This comes under the ‘hazardous packing of food material' as defined under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.- Photo: S. SIVA SARAVANAN.
 
HEALTH HAZARD:
 
Packing hot tea in polythene packets that are not meant for packing food items is dangerous. But, this is common practice in Coimbatore tea stalls. R. Kathiravan, Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing), says polythene reacts to high temperature by emitting styrene and bisphenol-A that are suspected to be carcinogenic and neurotoxic. 
 
They can cause cardiac and kidney problems, cancer and infertility. Packing of hot rice and other food materials like sambar and rasam will also have the same effect. This comes under the ‘hazardous packing of food material' as defined under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.


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