HYDERABAD: Several eateries, including some of the most popular bakeries and restaurants in the city, have, in the last year, ditched the traditional porcelain cups for disposable paper cups to serve chai. Apprehensions over Covid safety during the lockdowns led to people increasingly preferring the paper cups, which as per a research, are harmful due to degradation of micro-plastics and other hazardous components when consuming hot liquids.
A first-of-its-kind research by Dr Sudha Goel, associate professor at IIT Kharagpur, confirms the existence of contaminated particles of the hot liquid served in paper cups due to the degradation of components from the lining material of the cups.
The paper cups are lined by a thin layer of hydrophobic film made of plastic to hold the liquid. Posing serious health implications, the study found that 25,000 micron-sized micro-plastic particles are released into 100 ml of hot liquid at 85º-90º Celsius in a span of 15 minutes.
Food safety experts suggest that the dangerous trend of shifting to disposable cups should be restricted. Rajeshwar Tiwari, commissioner of food safety, suggested the usage of the earthen cups known as kulhads or high quality cups that are lined with edible wax.
A representative of Farasha Cafe in Sanath Nagar said the Covid pandemic frightened everyone, compelling them to be extra-cautious. Hence, no one preferred the porcelain cups and they got rid of them, he added.
Similarly, many restaurants including Nimrah Cafe, Hotel Shadab, Diamond Cafe, Cafe 555 and Cafe Niloufer have turned the tables during the lockdowns. Organisers of the restaurants explained that there was a need to make the switch last year as hardly anyone preferred the porcelain cups due to doubts over cleanliness.
Experts say there is a need to create awareness on the harmful usage, besides warning on adverse environmental impacts of paper cups.
Dr. Chandrashekhar Reddy, assistant medical officer of health, Kukatpally, said, “Going forward, we will focus on this issue.”
“Having chai in the porcelain cup and saucer is a great experience that is somehow lost with the paper cups,” explained Javed of Moghulpura, who consumes tea multiple times a day.
