The Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has instructed sellers to cease the sale of food and drinks in reused plastic bottles, cautioning that this practice presents health hazards.

In a statement released on Sunday, the authority observed that food products were being stored in empty drinking-water and soft-drink bottles, despite these containers not being intended for reuse. The report indicates that the bottles are produced from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a single-use plastic designed for disposal. According to the MFDA, PET bottles “should not be reused for other food items,” as doing so may lead to chemical leaching that contaminates food and poses risks to consumers.

The agency stated that it thinks the ongoing use of these bottles for selling different drinks in the market might enable plastic substances to transfer into food, presenting a danger to human health. It has consequently directed suppliers to promptly cease using empty PET bottles for packaging.

The order additionally offers contact numbers for more details: 3034213 and 7603204.

Local markets frequently repurpose PET bottles, particularly for selling coconut water and homemade beverages. Nonetheless, global food-safety standards caution that continual washing, exposure to heat, and wear can deteriorate PET, raising the chances of chemical release and bacterial proliferation, issues that MFDA is now officially tackling.