If you are one of those parents who cajole your kid with junk foods; be it for their homework or scoring best marks in the class, wait! You might want to think again about this, as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is planning to levy additional taxes on processed food and sugar-sweetened beverages and also have called for a blanket ban on advertising of junk foods and beverages on kids' channels and on all other mediums that connect with children. This happened after the Maharashtra government announced a ban on the sale of junk food at the school canteens.
Schools Speak
According to the GR passed by the government on Monday, every school in the state is prohibited from selling or deal with junk foods, be it Government schools, private aided schools or the privately owned schools. The Principals of the private schools are confused as to why such a ban has been imposed when they already have implimented a no-junk food policy in their school canteens.
Talking to The Afternoon D&C, Nishant Garodia, the Principal of Garodia International School, Ghatkopar, explained the daily menu of their school canteen. He said,"The government's Junk food policy is valid and acceptable. However, as far as I know, even before the government asked, most of the private schools already followed the no-junk food rule in their canteens." According to him, Garodia International has a weekly food chart which includes healthy foods, however, they have a cheat day too!
"Every week, we have allotted one day as cheat day where the students will be given their beloved junkies. Pizzas, Pastas, Chocolates and Burgers. The reason behind this is not to oppress their urge to consume their favourite food," he added.
According to Garodia and other Principals, providing junk food once in a while is okay, they feel by stopping them from eating junkies, may lead to some other trouble. Psychologically, if a child is not given what they desire, they will find other ways to possess them which may prove fatal.
Dilshad Thobani, Principal of H.A and L.S Girls High School, Masjid Bunder, said, "I feel that's a very positive move. But even before the ban, I had asked the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) members to prepare home made stuff rather than packaged food items in their children tiffins."
Why Banning Junk Will Cause Trouble?
According to the canteen owners around the schools and colleges, the one thing that students are most attracted to is Junk food. Foods like potato chips of various brands, cold drinks, Frankie (bread roll), Pizzas, Pasta, etc. are students' favourite food types. The canteen owners are afraid that if the government asks them to discontinue selling all these junk food they might lose out on business.
What about the University ban?
The Government Resolution (GR) which was passed on Monday clearly stated the eradication of Junk food from the school canteens in the state. The question is that will the schools really work under the guidelines of the GR?
Like the Maharashtra government, The University Grants Commission (UGC) too had issued instructions last November against the availability and sale of junk food in the higher educational institutions. UGC, which works under the Human Resource Development (MHRD), had passed such an instruction to set new standards for healthy food and make the students live and learn better. However, the University of Mumbai (MU) still provides all types of Junk food and sweetened and carbonated drinks in their varsity canteens.
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