New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) introduced a new project on Sunday to address the growing issue of microplastic contamination in Indian food.
Small plastic fragments, ranging from five millimetres to one micrometre, are known as microplastics. They affect both wildlife and humans. They have been detected in testicles, human blood, plants, and animals, which are only a few examples of the many things widely recognised as serious environmental and health risks.
The FSSAI initiated a new project in March of this year to develop and evaluate analytical methods for detecting micro- and nano-plastics in various food products. The effort also seeks to assess India’s microplastic prevalence and exposure levels.
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The project will create crucial data on consumer exposure levels to microplastics, perform intra- and interlaboratory comparisons, and build standard micro/nano-plastic analysis techniques.
“While global studies have highlighted the presence of microplastics in various foods, it is imperative to generate reliable data specific to India. This project will help understand the extent of microplastic contamination in Indian food and guide the formulation of effective regulations and safety standards to protect public health,” FSSAI said.
FSSAI said the project is being implemented in collaboration with leading research institutions across the country, including the CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (Lucknow), ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (Kochi), and the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (Pilani).
Recently, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in a new report, highlighted the presence of microplastics in common food items such as sugar and salt.
The FSSAI noted that although the global prevalence of microplastics was detailed in the report, the need is “for more robust data to fully understand the implications for human health and safety, particularly in the Indian context.”
The new project’s findings “will not only inform regulatory actions but also contribute to the global understanding of microplastic contamination.” Thus, Indian research will become an integral part of the global effort to combat this environmental challenge.
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–IANS
