In recent years, the growth of restaurant takeouts has been significant. While this trend benefits food outlets and delivery partners, it has also led to a concerning increase in plastic waste from bags, plastic boxes, and containers used for food packaging. Celebrity nutritionist and lifestyle expert Luke Coutinho recently highlighted this issue, urging food delivery giants Zomato and Swiggy to transition to biodegradable containers.
Taking to Instagram, Coutinho also emphasized the health risks of packing hot food in plastic containers, stressing the need for change.
Earlier this month, the celebrity nutritionist posted a detailed message, addressing Swiggy, Zomato, and associated restaurants. “Please work with your partners to ensure food deliveries happen in biodegradable, non-plastic containers. Many restaurants do this already, 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,” his post read.
In his caption, Luke outlined the dangers of packing hot food into plastic containers. He explained that restaurants often cook orders on high heat and with refined oil, which destroys most ingredients and nutrients. Immediate packing can trap significant heat and steam, causing the plastic to break down into harmful BPA and other toxins that damage the human body and affect hormones, fertility, and estrogen levels.
Coutinho also mentioned Zomato and Swiggy, along with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), saying, “We need to move to biodegradable non-plastic asap for better health and a better earth. You’ll have the power to make this change and be part of a healthier India.”
His post received considerable attention on social media, including a response from Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal. Acknowledging Coutinho’s concerns, Goyal wrote, “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 expressed his gratitude and offered his help in the effort.
Meanwhile, many others supported his views, emphasizing the need for action. One user commented, “This actually needs to be enforced eventually, not just encouraged. But great that we have a start and at least have set out with right intentions,” while another wrote, “Love this post. Change needs to happen! Thanks for voicing it.”
Veteran actor Soni Razdan also responded, “I thought those kind of containers were banned. Thanks for flagging this Luke I think we should all pressurise these companies no?”