Complaint Alleges Use of Waste Offset Printing Paper for Food Packaging in Agartala, Seeks Immediate Government Action
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, August 2, 2026
A formal complaint has been submitted to the Food Safety and Food & Consumer Affairs authorities of the Tripura Government, alleging that several restaurants, sweet shops, bakeries, roadside food vendors, and other food establishments in and around Agartala are using waste offset printing paper for wrapping and packing food items, raising concerns over potential risks to public health.
The complaint, submitted by former BSNL Er. Rajesh Dutta on Saturday, has been addressed to the Director of the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department, the Commissioner of Food Safety, and the Deputy Food Safety Commissioner. It urges the authorities to investigate the alleged practice and initiate appropriate regulatory action.
According to the representation, the waste paper in question is reportedly generated during the "make-ready" stage of web offset printing, when printing presses are operated to stabilize ink and fountain solutions before actual production begins. The complaint states that such discarded paper may contain residues of printing inks, fountain solutions, and various processing chemicals that are not intended for direct contact with food.
The representation further notes that fountain solutions and printing processes may involve chemicals such as isopropyl alcohol (IPA), gum arabic, phosphoric acid, citric acid, surfactants, buffering agents, fungicides, corrosion inhibitors, anti-foaming agents, and other processing substances. It also states that printing inks may contain pigments, mineral or vegetable oils, resins, waxes, driers, photoinitiators, and other additives, traces of which may remain on the waste paper.
The complainant has expressed concern that these substances could migrate into food, particularly when it is hot, oily, moist, or stored for prolonged periods. The representation warns that continued use of such packaging materials may pose health risks, including gastrointestinal irritation, allergic reactions, and other adverse effects depending on the nature and concentration of the chemicals involved.
Seeking immediate intervention, the complaint requests the authorities to conduct inspections of restaurants, bakeries, sweet shops, and food vendors across Agartala, prohibit the use of waste offset printing paper and other non-food-grade materials for direct food contact, ensure the use of certified food-grade packaging, initiate action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 against violators, organise awareness programmes for food business operators, and issue directions to discontinue the practice.
The complaint concludes by urging the concerned departments to undertake a thorough investigation and adopt preventive and corrective measures to safeguard public health. As of the filing of the complaint, no official response from the concerned authorities was available.
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