The Kerala High Court on Thursday expressed serious concern over the widespread use of plastic containers for food delivery, highlighting the risk of microplastic ingestion and its potential link to rising health issues. [Prasanna EV v. State of Kerala & Ors]
Justice Devan Ramachandran directed the Additional Director General of Prosecution to examine the practice of packing food in plastic containers for delivery and to evaluate its implications.
“Young children are living on this food delivery. You must understand that microplastics are entering into your body, particularly when hot stuff is packed in such plastic containers. That creates a microplastic ingestion. What are we doing about it? As a concerned citizen, rather a concerned father, I’m asking you: are these plastic containers used for delivery good?” the judge orally remarked.
The directive came during the hearing of a petition concerning food safety, in which the Court took notice of the increasing reliance on food delivery services, particularly among the younger generation.
The judge noted that such ingestion could be contributing to serious health conditions, including cancer and damage to organs like the liver, lungs, colon and intestines.
In light of these concerns, the judge directed the state to examine the issue and assist the Court with appropriate recommendations, observing that the potential health impacts of such practices may not yet be fully understood or effectively addressed by existing regulatory mechanisms.
“I record that this Court has suggested that the learned additional director general of prosecution instructed by Mary Meera Joseph learned senior government pleader, to look into the issue regarding using of plastics for food delivery which appears to be rampant these days. Learned senior counsel Gracious Kuriakose has promised that the matter will be addressed and reported to this court by next posting date,” the Court added.