FSSAI bans staple pins in tea bags from June 30

Food regulator FSSAI on Wednesday issued a notification seeking a ban on the use of pins in tea bags by the food business operators (FBOs) by June 30.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has asked the FBOs to discontinue manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of stapled tea bags by June 30.

Last year, it had decided to ban the stapler pins in tea bags from January 2019 as it poses potential hazard to consumers since any loose staple pin consumed inadvertently with tea may cause a serious health hazard.

Earlier, FBOs had raised the issue of cost involved in changing over staple-less machines and presence of a few manufacturers of such machines globally.

The FSSAI ruled out the possibility of "blanket extension".

However, it said extension may be given on a case-to-case basis depending on firm commitment from the FBOs with proper proof to change over within a specified time.

The food authority has also directed the tea bag manufacturing units to submit their plan to switch to new system by procuring the new machines or modifying the existing machines.

One tonne of banned plastic products seized from Chennai restaurant

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu food safety department officials on Wednesday seized one tonne of banned plastic products from the Vadapalani branch of Saravana Bhavan chain of restaurants.

Officials said they had received many complaints from customers and from officials about the restaurant using banned plastic products. The Chennai district collector had also complained to the department regarding this. 

A team of officials conducted a search at the restaurant around 7am. They found 3,200 plastic trays, 1,200 plastic cups, 1,565 plastic carry bags, 1,650 plastic tumblers, 55 plastic rolls, 300 plastic straws and other plastic items that have been banned. The search continued till 10am. 

“They had stored these materials here and planned to supply them to parties. We had already received many complaints in the past and raided their restaurants on January 3. Again, we received complaints on Tuesday and so we acted upon it,” said a food safety officer.

The restaurant employees were warned and asked not to use the banned items. “Since penalties have not been worked out yet, we cannot impose any fine. But we have warned them,” said an official. 

An employee of the hotel told TOI that they had stored the old stock at the branch.

The food safety department has so far seized about seven tonne of banned plastic products since the day the ban came into force on January 1.