In recent years, concerns over the safety of jute packaging for food items have grown, largely due to the health risks associated with Jute Batching Oil (JBO). These concerns have come into sharper focus as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) prepares to host a high-level consultation in April 2025 titled “Sustainable Packaging for Food Business: Emerging Global Trends and Regulatory Framework.” The consultation aims to strengthen food safety protocols and examine the sustainability and safety of existing packaging practices in India.
Jute Packaging and Regulatory Mandates
Under the Jute Packaging Materials Act (JPMA), 1987, a significant portion of India’s food grains (80%) and sugar (20%) must be packed in jute bags. This mandate was originally introduced to support the jute industry and encourage its modernization. However, decades later, the safety of this practice is now being called into question due to growing evidence of harmful chemical migration from the packaging to the food.
The Carcinogenic Risk of Jute Batching Oil
JBO, a petroleum-based mineral oil, is used to soften jute fibers during manufacturing. Despite its effectiveness and affordability for the jute industry, it contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—chemicals recognized globally as carcinogenic.
A January 2025 report by the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR) has raised fresh alarms. The study conclusively links JBO to carcinogenic, tumorigenic, and toxic effects, reinforcing long-standing concerns about its migration into food items, especially grains and sugar stored in jute bags.
Contamination and Double Standards
Studies show that JBO not only poses a health risk to consumers but also affects workers handling jute bags. While Indian regulations continue to enforce jute packaging for domestic sugar, export sugar is exempt from this requirement, and large-scale sugar consumers such as beverage and pharmaceutical companies refuse jute packaging altogether. Even government agencies involved in public distribution prefer alternate packaging for sugar.
This inconsistency points to an urgent need for regulatory review—if jute packaging is unsafe for export and industry use, should it remain mandatory for domestic public consumption?
Looking Ahead: Health or Sustainability?
Although eco-friendly in perception, jute packaging’s reliance on JBO undermines its sustainability narrative. While alternative, safer batching oils exist, they are costlier and less widely adopted by the industry.
As FSSAI drafts new recommendations for sustainable food packaging, the health and safety risks associated with JBO must be a key consideration. Ensuring that packaging materials protect both the environment and public health is vital. The current evidence suggests that jute packaging, in its existing form, may not meet that standard—especially when it comes to sugar and staple food grains.
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