Key Update

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has asked the Madras High Court to review its order directing that drinking water, sugar and salt sold in plastic bottles and packets carry a warning in bold red letters stating: “This water/sugar/salt may contain micro/nano plastics.”

In its review application before the Special Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, the FSSAI argued that scientific research on the health effects of microplastics and nanoplastics remains inconclusive. It said the mandatory warning could create public panic and disrupt the supply chain.

Scientific Evidence on Health Risks Remains Inconclusive

Filing the application through Central government senior panel counsel V. Chandrasekaran, the food safety regulator said research into the potential health effects of microplastics and nanoplastics remains at an early stage.

The FSSAI argued that although some studies have suggested possible health effects from exposure to these particles, the available evidence does not conclusively establish that the levels found in food pose a risk to human health. The authority said the uncertainty surrounding the current evidence makes it inappropriate to require a prominent warning on commonly used food and drinking water packaging at this stage.

FSSAI Questions Research Behind the High Court Order

The regulator also questioned the scientific material relied upon by the High Court while issuing its February 6, 2026 order.

According to the FSSAI, the report considered by the court was a review of research papers published by scientists worldwide on microplastics and nanoplastics as emerging contaminants. The authority maintained that the review did not itself conclusively establish harmful effects on human health. Based on this, the FSSAI argued that the court’s direction to mandate warnings goes beyond what the existing scientific evidence can currently support.

Concerns Over Public Panic and Supply Disruption

The FSSAI also raised concerns about the practical impact of the warning.

It told the court that requiring manufacturers to print the message prominently on PET bottles used for drinking water and plastic packets used for sugar and salt could create public anxiety and disrupt the supply chain. The authority said such consequences would be particularly significant given that research has not yet established the extent of any health risk associated with microplastic and nanoplastic exposure through food.

FSSAI Seeks Further Studies on Microplastics

While challenging the warning requirement, the FSSAI has also pointed to the need for more research on the issue.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had earlier taken cognisance of a March 29, 2022 media report on the detection of microplastics in human blood. The tribunal subsequently directed the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct further studies on microplastics.

The FSSAI said it had written to the ICMR twice requesting the relevant research but had not received a response. The regulator has agreed to fund the proposed ICMR study, as well as a separate study by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) at the request of the Tamil Nadu government.

The findings of these studies could help build a stronger scientific understanding of the potential health implications of microplastic and nanoplastic exposure.

Review Plea Follows Supreme Court Withdrawal

The FSSAI has filed the review application along with a petition seeking condonation of a 151-day delay in filing it. The matter has been listed for hearing before the Special Division Bench on Monday.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the FSSAI had earlier approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s direction. However, Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta of the Supreme Court dismissed the special leave petition as withdrawn on May 18, 2026.

The FSSAI has now returned to the Madras High Court seeking a review of the February order. The case brings into focus the challenge of balancing precautionary food safety measures with evolving scientific evidence. While researchers continue to study the potential health effects of microplastics and nanoplastics, the FSSAI maintains that the available evidence is not yet conclusive enough to justify mandatory warnings on these products.

Source: The Hindu