The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has informed food business operators (FBOs) to stop using metallic pins and wires in food packaging and parcels with immediate effect, citing risks to consumer health.

In a public health and food safety advisory, India’s food regulator said businesses that ignore the direction would face penal action.

The FSSAI said: "It has come to the notice of the FSSAI that metallic / staple pins and wires are being used by FBOs for preparing decorative cakes and other such products and for fastening food packets, cake boxes, sweet boxes, snack pouches, takeaway food parcels and other food packages."

The authority said multiple cases had been reported in which metallic or staple pins were found inside or attached to cakes and food packs, describing this as a "serious food safety hazard".

According to the regulator, there is a clear possibility that consumers could accidentally swallow such pins, leading to injury and other adverse health effects.

The advisory said: "All FBOs are hereby directed to immediately discontinue the use of metallic pins / wires or any other such material for sealing, fastening, securing, or packaging any food item, food parcel, takeaway meal, bakery product, cake box, sweet box, snack packet, or any other food item or package."

The watchdog said failure to follow the order would lead to action under the FSS Act, 2006, and applicable regulations.

In 2025, the FSSAI proposed a ban on the use of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) and bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging materials. 

According to the draft, PFAs “shall not be used in the manufacturing of food contact materials,” and “food contact materials manufactured with polycarbonate and epoxy resins shall be free from BPA and its derivatives.”