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To avoid contamination by the adhesive used for applying stickers on fruit, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has instructed the fruit traders not to use stickers anymore. The regulator also believes that while developed nations apply stickers on produce they do it give information like grades, prices, to trace the product and so on. On the other hand, the traders in India put stickers on fruits to either hide decay or to make it look premium.
“It was observed that in India the traders use the stickers to make their product look premium, and sometimes hide the decay or defect the product. Brand name, tested OK or best quality are some common terms mentioned on stickers, which do not have any significance,” said the guidance note by FSSAI.
It also added that “The adhesive may contain harmful chemicals which may affect human health, as the skin of fruits and vegetables are porous and the residue can percolate inside. The health risk of consuming these adhesives is high in case of fruits and vegetable consumed with skin.”
FSSAI added that it was prohibited under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2011, to sell unsafe food that can be injurious to health. However, the apex regulator also admitted that there wasn’t any specific requirement prescribed under the Act when it comes to the packaging of fresh fruits with reference to stickers and adhesives.