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When the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced on August 10 that pan masala can no longer be packed in plastic, plastic laminates, aluminium foil or metallised layers, it barely created a ripple outside the trade industry. Under the new amendment, only paper, paperboard, cellulose and other naturally derived materials without synthetic polymers like polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or PVC are permitted. Tin and glass packaging continue to remain acceptable. The proposal was first introduced in April, opened for public feedback for 60 days, and has now officially become law.
At first glance, it may seem like a regulation targeting just one product. But look closely and a much bigger question emerges. If plastic packaging is considered unsafe enough to be banned for pan masala, why is it still being used for chips, biscuits, chocolates, namkeen, instant noodles, spices and countless other packaged foods that line supermarket shelves every day?
The rule already existed, but few knew about it
Contrary to what many people believe, India has not been operating without food packaging regulations. Since 2018, the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations have already required every plastic material that comes in contact with food to meet an Overall Migration Limit. This means that no more than 60 milligrams of substances can migrate from the packaging into one kilogram of food. The regulations also specify limits for individual substances such as barium, copper, zinc, antimony and DEHP, a phthalate that has been studied for its possible endocrine-disrupting effects. These standards were updated in 2022, yet they remain largely unknown outside laboratories and compliance departments.
This means the issue is not that other packaged foods are completely unregulated. Instead, the difference lies in enforcement. While most food products continue under a broad migration-limit framework that manufacturers largely self-certify, pan masala has now received a direct material ban that clearly specifies what packaging can and cannot be used. It is this visible enforcement that has raised eyebrows.
Scientific studies show that chemicals from packaging can migrate into food depending on several factors, including temperature, storage time and the type of food itself. Fatty and acidic foods have consistently shown higher migration levels than others. However, researchers also stress that this does not automatically make every plastic package dangerous. The real concern is whether the specific packaging used for a particular food continues to remain within the legal migration limits already laid down by Indian regulations.
The bigger question for consumers
Interestingly, this is not the first time FSSAI has acted against packaging materials. In June 2026, the regulator once again warned vendors against serving food in newspapers, citing the migration of harmful substances from printing ink into hot and oily food. The practice had already been prohibited since 2018, but enforcement only became visible after a specific incident in Mumbai.
This also highlights another important point. Replacing plastic with another material does not automatically make food safer. Even paper products like newspapers can pose health risks if they are not suitable for food contact. The focus should therefore remain on using scientifically tested and approved packaging materials rather than simply assuming one material is always safer than another.
Today, almost every household consumes packaged foods stored in multilayer plastic laminates. Chips, biscuits, chocolates, ready-to-eat gravies, seasoning sachets and namkeen all rely on packaging designed to increase shelf life and prevent contamination. Plastic has undoubtedly played a major role in reducing food waste and making food distribution possible across India’s climate. However, the latest amendment has reopened an important debate. If FSSAI can specifically ban plastic packaging for one product category, should similar public scrutiny and transparent testing also apply to other packaged foods?
The new pan masala rule is not simply about one product. It has sparked a wider discussion on whether India’s existing food packaging standards are being enforced consistently across the industry. While the country already has regulations governing chemical migration from packaging, many experts believe that greater public disclosure of testing results, regular surveillance and stronger enforcement would help build consumer confidence. Until then, the question remains: if packaging material matters enough to ban plastic for pan masala, should consumers not receive the same level of transparency for every packaged food they buy?
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