BANNED BITES - Govt can't stomach junk food at school canteens

Ban On Sale Of Unhealthy Food In & Around Schools Suggested

Shivam's* lunch break at school is never complete without a packet of potato chips that he buys from the canteen.

But the snack may soon be the forbidden food at school.

Earlier this year, the Union minister for women and child development had constituted a committee to study accessibility of junk food to children. The committee, in its report, has now recommended a ban on the sale of junk food in school canteens. Also, vendors, shops and restaurants within a 200m radius of schools should not be allowed to sell such items to children in school uniform, it said. The committee also said cases of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other physiological disorders among children are rising.

“The committee has suggested a comprehensive defini tion of junk food in the context of children and has suggested that all food items falling in the definition of junk food should be banned from school canteens,“ said a press statement issued by the Union minister of women and child development.

The student community , however, is not satisfied with the recommendations. “I will be disappointed if chips are banned. I al ways buy something to eat during the intervals or after school.A packet of chips or samosas is what I like,“ said Shivam, a student of a CBSE school in Coimbatore. Another student of a matriculation school, who is in Class 10, said, “I am hungry after school. I go to tuition classes directly from school. I have to go to the chaat shop near my school and eat something.“

Parents, however, have lauded the suggestions. “I will be very happy if the government implements this. I pack lunch for my son every day but he likes to buy something from the school canteen. Most of the times he eats food fried in reheated oil,“ said mother of a Class 9 student.

Doctors and nutritionists too have welcomed the recommendations. “Ten years ago 10-15% kids I treated were overweight. Today , every third child is overweight. It is high time we reduce consumption of junk food,“ said consultant paediatrician at PSG Hospitals, Jayavardhana A. “The committee should also think about putting curbs on advertisements which attract children to junk food,“ he said.

However, school representatives said only healthy food is sold in canteens. President of Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association R Visalakshi said, “The committee should list out junk food items.Simply defining junk food will not help.“

Principal of MCC Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Chennai, Revathy Bonns said the school does not serve junk food to students. “It is a good idea to ban sale of junk food around the premises but it may be difficult to implement. Awareness should be created in schools to discourage children from buying junk food,“ she said. Vel's Billabong principal Meenakshi Ramesh said teachers should educate students and spread awareness.“Ultimately , the students must realise. But the school should not sell any junk food. Instead, canteens can provide healthy food,“ she said.