FSSAI Launches Project to Combat Microplastic Contamination in Food

New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has embarked on an ambitious project to address the escalating concern of microplastic contamination in food. Launched on August 18, 2024, in New Delhi, the initiative titled “Micro-and Nano-Plastics as Emerging Food Contaminants: Establishing Validated Methodologies and Understanding the Prevalence in Different Food Matrices,” seeks to develop and validate methods for detecting micro and nano-plastics in various food products and assess their prevalence and exposure levels across India.

The project, which began in March of this year, aims to create standardized protocols for analyzing micro/nano-plastics, perform intra- and inter-laboratory comparisons, and generate essential data on the exposure levels of microplastics among Indian consumers. This initiative is being conducted in collaboration with premier research institutions such as the CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research in Lucknow, the ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology in Kochi, and the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani.

In a recent report, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlighted the presence of microplastics in common food items like sugar and salt. Although this report underlines the global reach of microplastic pollution, it also stresses the need for more comprehensive data to fully understand the health implications, especially in India.

As the nation’s food safety regulator, FSSAI is dedicated to ensuring that Indian consumers have access to safe and healthy food. While global studies have shown microplastics in various foods, it is crucial to gather reliable data specific to India. This project will provide insights into the extent of microplastic contamination in Indian food, guiding the creation of effective regulations and safety standards to safeguard public health.

The results of this project will not only inform regulatory measures in India but will also contribute to the global understanding of microplastic contamination, positioning Indian research at the forefront of this critical environmental challenge.