Provide nutritious food to children: CSE’s Sunita Narain
Asserting that banning junk food in schools is the need of the hour, the Centre for Science and Environment Director-General Sunita Narain has demanded that a uniform canteen policy be adopted by all unaided and private schools across the country.
Noting that canteens in schools not be treated as commercial outlets, Ms. Narain said a suitable policy enabling nutritious, wholesome and healthy food to children be developed and adopted across the country. Ms. Narain heads the working group constituted to prepare a draft guideline after the Delhi High Court on September 4, 2013, directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to consult experts in health and junk food. “We need to understand that canteens carry a social responsibility towards inculcating healthy eating behaviours. Canteen policies based on nutrition criteria have been developed in Australia, Canada, Singapore and Abu Dhabi.”
Having studied various models in different countries, she wants canteens in all schools in the country to categorise the food served. “Canteens must specify food like green (healthy). Eighty per cent of the food must be green. Red (unhealthy) should not be available at all and orange (non-standardised food like samosa) be available sparingly in the canteens.”
She said children should be fed proper breakfast at home and they must be encouraged to bring home-cooked food to schools.
A school health team has also been suggested in each school comprising teachers, parents, students and operators of canteens.
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