Photo : Messenger
There is a special awareness about safe food worldwide. Safe packaging plays an important role in marketing a variety of foods. And this is what Siegwerk is working on it. Jatin Takkar, Head of Product Safety and Regulatory, Siegwerk, South Asia, spoke on the overall topic. He was interviewed by Sanjay Adhikari Rony, Chief Reporter of The Daily Messenger.
Messenger: What is your view about safe food packaging?
Jatin: As you know Bangladeshi market growing consumption of package food items. People are consuming more and more package food. And the very basic reason that people consider package food to be safer as compared food items which is not package properly. Ultimately when you talked about packaging materials, these are basically the chemicals. And if you choose the chemicals is wrong, you having chemicals which is hangered as which is potentially migrate into food and the same packaging has basic function of protecting the food can also contaminate the food.
Messenger: In the third world country mainly sub-continent it is overlook safe food packaging. In this situation in Bangladesh is it possible to mark that level?
Jatin: If I comparison between Europe and Bangladesh, or developing countries in this continent, their different level stories. We should be aware of these threats and then we take step by step action make sure that one day we come to a level of we are at the same position of global regulations. It’s more important to start with the regulations ang to give a minimum shield to the consumers in Bangladesh market against the food packaging which is the not safe.
Messenger: When we manufacture the product for export, it is mandatory of international standard, but not for the domestic market.
Jatin: It is harsh reality of developing nations. Not only Bangladesh, it happens similarly other developing nations like India that for matter. It’s very evident that they need to follow exports they take the maximum precautions and the domestic market we try to see best possible for you. The regulator only can create level playing field for everyone.
Messenger: What are the challenges in the case of ensuring safe food packaging in Bangladesh and how can they be solved?
Jatin: In Bangladesh, the biggest challenges right now create awareness. I believe inherently all brands and regulators wants to provide safe food for the consumers. But then during the process, it could be sudden things which have never been brought into their attention. I can sure we have been doing this awareness four-five years now in the Bangladesh market talking about safe food packaging inks.
Messenger: What steps has Siegwerk taken to improve safe food packaging in Bangladesh?
Jatin: As you know that the inks regulations have been recently developed by BSTI. But we have been working in the market several years now. From the day one, when we established our plant in Bangladesh market, we had the commitment toluene free inks. Toluene is one of many such chemicals which is not so good for health and not so good quality of the food products. We committed from day one that we not sell any toluene-based inks.
Messenger: From which country you import these chemicals?
Jatin: It’s only depended the raw materials choices. It sources from different countries, we source from local market Bangladesh, India, China, Europe etc.
Messenger: How does Siegwerk incorporate sustainability into its food packaging solutions in Bangladesh and globally?
Jatin: Now there is a big drive in the market to either move plastic to paper and then the other drive is to make the plastic materials from the same family. So, this structure is recycled. If you have moving to a multi-layer plastic to monolayer plastic, you changing the structure. But you need the same barriers properties. So, we are developing the coatings which is provide you those barriers properties.
Messenger/Fameema
