GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1689
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11th FEBRUARY, 2022
PRESENCE OF MICROPLASTICS IN FOOD CHAIN
1689. MS. RAMYA HARIDAS
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a)the details of research being undertaken on various aspects of presence of microplastics in food chain;

(b) whether the Government is aware of health risks associated to humans due to

microplastics found in food chain, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government validates international health bodies work on presence of

microplastics in placenta, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) the time by when the regulations are likely to be notified by the Government in this

regard;

(e) if not, whether the Government proposes to conduct any such study in this regard; and

(f) the details of institutions involved in such research work?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (f): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Indian Council of

Medical Research (ICMR) have informed that no research has been carried out in this regard.

ICMR has also informed that as per literature, opinions on the safety of plastics vary widely;

scientific consensus on product safety is elusive and there is no estimation of risk of chronic

ingestion of contaminants from food packaging and public-health impact or potential

negative impacts that might result from that ingestion.