Experts shy from ban on junk food

NEW DELHI: A report submitted by an expert group on junk food has recommended regulation of such food items in school canteens but shied away from pushing for a total ban. 

The expert group, formed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, on Wednesday informed HC about the guidelines on the subject of "making available quality and safe food in schools" and suggested food high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) be restricted in schools and "within 50 metres" radius as opposed to the demand for a total ban within 500 yards made by the petitioner. 

On being told that the guidelines have been framed, a bench comprising acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice S Mridul asked FSSAI to file them within two days with advance copies to the petitioner NGO Uday Foundation and the amicus curiae (senior advocate N K Kaul) who can then come up with their response. The report argues children are not "the best judge of their food choice" and admits that schools are not the right place for promoting HFSS foods. 

It termed "chips, fried foods, sugar sweetened carbonated beverages" etc as HFSS foods and suggested "the school management must ensure regulation of such foods through canteen policies that promote healthy, wholesome and nutritious foods". The panel has also suggested a canteen policy to provide nutritious food in school be developed to ensure that such canteens are not treated as "commercial outlets". 

"A school health team or a similar unit could be set up in each school comprising teachers, parents and school canteen operators which will coordinate, implement and monitor the canteen policy to make available quality and nutritious food to students in schools," the report, says. 

TOI, which published extracts of the report, had on Wednesday highlighted how the panel is split on the need to ban junk food completely from school premises. HC is hearing the PIL filed by Uday Foundation seeking an immediate ban on junk food and carbonated drinks in all unaided and private schools. The NGO has also sought a direction to initiate measures to discourage availability of fast food within 500 yards of schools in Delhi, apart from a canteen policy.