The Delhi high court on Wednesday asked the Centre to ensure that
junk food did not make up a major portion of a school student’s diet as
it may lead to health risks.
The court, however, also said a student cannot be asked to give up junk food completely.
“No food is without some nutritional value. If a child has junk food
once in a while, it is fine but only when it becomes a dietary habit
does the problem begin,” a bench of Chief Justice Venkat Ramana and
Justice Pradeep Nandrajog said.
The National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) has urged
directions to a seven-member committee appointed by the Centre to hold
consultation with panel of experts and scientists working in the field
of nutrition and also with all stake holders like food processors and
associations. The committee will finalise guidelines on regulating the
sale of junk food in and around school premises.
The health ministry had on September 4 told the court it has formed
the committee to finalise the guidelines. The panel will comprise four
members of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and one
official each from the HRD ministry, health ministry and the National
Institute of Nutrition.
Global marketing research firm AC Nielsen — which was tasked with
drafting the guidelines — had suggested banning of sandwiches, pizzas,
chips, burgers, noodles, french fries and aerated soft drinks in
schools across the country.
The court is hearing a PIL filed by social activist Rahul Verma of
the NGO Uday Foundation demanding a ban of the sale of junk food in
schools.
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