Archive · 13 Nov 2025
India to Study Plastic Packaging Safety Amidst Rising Heat and Food Delivery Surge
Imagine you get your food delivered in plastic containers.
Because it's getting very hot in India, the government wants to check if the heat makes the plastic unsafe for our food.
They will study different kinds of plastic boxes and bags to see if tiny bits of plastic leak into the food when it's hot.
If the plastic isn't safe, they might change the rules about what kind of plastic can be used.
This is important because many people now get their food delivered, and we want to make sure it's always safe to eat, even on hot days.
This study will help make sure the plastic used by food delivery companies like Zomato and Swiggy is safe for everyone.
The Indian government plans a study to assess the safety of plastic food packaging amidst rising temperatures and increased food delivery.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will examine chemical leaching from various plastic types into food under extreme heat and humidity.
Findings could lead to revised Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, impacting major food delivery platforms like Zomato and Swiggy.
The study aims to ensure packaging safety aligns with India's changing climatic conditions and growing reliance on delivery services.
Experts note that while plastic leaching is within limits, elevated temperatures can increase this, highlighting the need for updated standards and consumer trust.
- Who
- The Indian government's consumer affairs ministry, through the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
- What
- Plans to conduct a scientific study to assess the safety of plastic food packaging under extreme heat and humidity.
- When
- Initiated due to record heat spells and changing weather patterns; findings will determine if regulations need revision.
- Where
- India, focusing on conditions experienced across the country, especially northern and western regions.
- Why
- To determine if existing plastic packaging safety limits are still effective in extreme Indian weather conditions and to ensure consumer safety amidst a surge in food delivery.
Concerns about Plastic Packaging
Existing Standards and Practices
Chemical Leaching
Concerns about Plastic Packaging
Intense heat and humidity may cause chemicals from plastic packaging (like PET, recycled-PET, polycarbonate, laminated films) to leach into food, potentially compromising safety.
Existing Standards and Practices
While plastic can leach, it is within defined safety limits. Leaching increases at elevated temperatures, necessitating further study.
Relevance of Current Standards
Concerns about Plastic Packaging
Existing packaging safety limits may not be effective under extreme Indian weather conditions and changing lifestyles, requiring a revision of current regulations.
Existing Standards and Practices
There is a need to ensure packaging maintains product quality, authenticity, and traceability, even in rising temperature conditions, potentially through clear markings for elevated temperatures and single-use.
- Study Conductor
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), under the consumer affairs ministry
- Focus
- Assessing safety of plastic packaging for food under extreme Indian weather conditions
- Affected Plastics
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), recycled-PET, polycarbonate, and laminated films
- Potential Outcome
- Revision of Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018
- Impacted Industries
- Food delivery platforms (Zomato, Swiggy), Indian plastic packaging market ($22.48 billion), Indian food delivery market ($48 billion)
- Projected Food Delivery Market Growth
- CAGR of 27.3% from 2025 to 2034, reaching $537.23 billion