Over the past decade, the way people in India consume food has changed significantly, largely due to the rapid growth of food delivery services. Companies like Uber Eats, Zomato, and Swiggy have revolutionized the food industry, influencing how Indians choose their meals. This shift is driven by urbanization, changing consumer behaviour, and technological advancements.
Many customers focus on ordering from hygienic places that use high-quality ingredients, often overlooking the type of packaging used. However, this oversight can have serious health consequences, especially when hot food is packed in low-quality containers. Celebrity nutritionist Luke Coutinho recently highlighted this issue on Instagram.
Luke Coutinho Urges for Biodegradable Food Packaging
Nutritionist Luke Coutinho recently urged food delivery giants Swiggy and Zomato, along with their partner restaurants, to adopt biodegradable packaging instead of plastic. He shared his concerns on Instagram, stating:
Swiggy, Zomato, Restaurants …Please work with your partners to ensure food deliveries happen in biodegradable non-plastic containers … many restaurants do this already, so please make it uniform …deliver food and health….hot food in plastic is making people sicker… You’ll have the power to help make a change.
In his post, Coutinho also discussed the unhealthy nature of restaurant food prepared quickly using high heat and refined oils. He explained the health risks associated with storing hot food in plastic containers
people want their food on time …so restaurants will cook your order on high heat and flame, destroying most ingredients, and using more refined oil as a medium for fast cooking.
Coutinho tagged relevant organizations and authorities, urging them to act. He wrote:
Coutinho went on to discuss the health hazards of storing hot food in plastic containers. He said,
From pan / vessel straight into a plastic container which is immediately covered with the cover retaining immense heat and steam ….this heat as we know starts to break down the plastic into dangerous bpa and other toxins that wreck havoc with the human body and hormones , fertility , estrogens etc ..we need to move to biodegradable non plastic asap for better health and a better earth …
He went on to tag organizations and authorities that have the power to alter things. He wrote,
@swiggyindia @zomato @fssai_safefood you’ll have the power to make this change and be part of a healthier India, respectfully request you’ll @swiggyindia @zomato and @fssai_safefood @fssai_group_of_india to work this out.
Zomato CEO Responds to Luke Coutinho’s Call
Coutinho’s post garnered significant attention, with likes and comments from notable figures like producer Guneet Monga and actor Dia Mirza. While the delivery platforms were initially silent, Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal recently responded:
“Thanks, Luke, for bringing this up. We will do what we can – will highlight restaurants which use food-safe packaging, so customers can make a more conscious choice.”
Coutinho acknowledged Goyal’s response with another post:
“Thank you @deepigoyal @zomato for acknowledging this and moving to action. At the end of the day, it’s about coming together with a vision to build a healthier country. Thank you, and my team and I are happy to help anytime. I wonder when @swiggyindia will decide to wake up and at least acknowledge participation.”
Health Risks of Plastic Packaging
According to Medical News Today, heat exposure breaks down plastic into microplastics. These microplastics can enter the food chain and potentially disrupt hormones. They may also increase the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes and compromise gut health, weakening immunity.
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