GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2038
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18TH MARCH, 2025
CHEMICALS LINKED TO BREAST CANCER
2038. SHRI YERRAM VENKATA SUBBA REDDY:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) the views of Government on a research study which states that nearly 200 chemicals linked to breast cancer found in food packaging materials and plastic tableware capable of migrating into human body;
(b) whether India has any regulations to limit carcinogenic substances in food contact materials;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) if not, the manner in which Government is going to plug the gaps/loopholes in the regulatory framework?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (d): A study by the Food Packaging Forum Foundation, based in Zurich, Switzerland found that 189 (21%) of 909 potential mammary carcinogens were present in Food Contact Materials (FCMs), with 30 showing direct carcinogenic evidence in rodent models and 67 suspected due to genotoxicity. However, it is important to note that while these findings suggest potential risks, further research is necessary to understand the exact mechanisms and the implications for human health.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to lay down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
As per, Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, general and specific requirements for quality packaging materials have to be used for packaging, preparation, storing, wrapping, transportation and sale or service of food. Additionally, these regulation specifies that all packaging materials of plastic origin shall pass the prescribed overall migration limit of 60mg/kg or 10mg/dm2 when tested as per IS 9845 with no visible colour migration. Specific migration limits have also been specified for some of the substances i.e., Barium, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Lithium, Manganese, Zinc, Antimony and Phthalic acid, bis (2- ethylhexyl) ester (DEHP).