KATHMANDU, May 2: The government is planning to ban use of printing paper for street food packaging.

Director general of the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, Dr Matina Joshi Vaidhya said that since such papers contain chemicals that have a dangerous effect on health, a procedure is being prepared to impose a ban on the use of printing paper for packing street food.

Speaking at a food hygiene training program that started in Kathmandu from Tuesday, she mentioned that the use of street food is increasing because it is affordable and tasty, and also made it clear that the government wants to ban the use of printing paper to package street food.

Director General Vaidhya said that in order to keep the street food and vegetable and fruit markets clean, the federal government has also initiated public awareness programs in collaboration with the local governments.

She said, “Street foods are a good alternative as some cheap and delicious snacks. Not everyone can afford fine dining. So that street food will not cause food poisoning at all, it is very important to improve its hygiene. We should make a procedure for this from the department as well. And foods like chatpate and selroti packed in newspapers which are sold to customers should be immediately stopped. We can ban such harmful practices as per the Food Act by making them aware and gradually banning them.”

The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has also said that there will be strict monitoring of street food and fruit markets for food hygiene.

 
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