Uttar Pradesh schools to ban sale of junk food

 

Uttar Pradesh: The move was initiated by the Secondary Education Council following instructions from the federal Health and Family Planning ministry.
The Uttar Pradesh government has asked all schools in the state to ban sale of junk food within their premises and outside, an official said today. A senior government official said the move was initiated by the Secondary Education Council following instructions from the federal Health and Family Planning ministry. In a letter addressed to principals of all schools, secretary of the UP Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (Board of High School and Intermediate Education) asked to ban sale of all forms of junk food, carbonated cold drinks and high sugar containing food from their campuses.
The letter said consumption of such food items leads to a host of diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure and piled up cholesterol levels. The letter specifically mentioned the high trans-fat levels in foods sold in different forms like wafers, salted and fried items. The official letter has encouraged school managements to promote healthy and nutritious food amongst school going children. The letter also warned strict action against the district inspector of schools of that area, if the orders were not implemented.