Centre wants to ban sale of junk food in and around schools

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Women & Child Development formed a panel to look into the changing eating habits and obesity among twenty first century children.

A complete ban on the sale of junk food in and around schools has been proposed by a government panel endorsing concerns about health risks posed by popular eating habits of children. The committee, formed by the Ministry of Women & Child Development, submitted its report this week and recommended that junk food should be clearly defined and all eatables falling in the category should be banned in school canteens and school premises.

"All food items falling in the definition of junk food should be banned in school canteens. Shops and restaurants selling food within 200 metres of a school should not be permitted to sell these food items to children in school uniforms. There should be a list of desirable food items to be offered in school canteens," said the report.

The panel has expressed concerns about the increasing incidence of obesity in children and the related physiological issues, including diabetes and hypertension. The committee has outlined the consequences of increasing psychological and behavioural dysfunctions in children, including binge-eating, body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem. Even though junk food has not been defined under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, many schools have already banned junk food following the Delhi High Court's order which curbed junk foods in schools.

"We have banned junk food and aerated drinks in our school completely. The food offered to students in cafeteria is healthy, wholesome and as per children's growing needs," said Pramod Sharma, principal, Genesis Global School, Sector 132, Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, who has initiated the process in the school in 2013.

According to Union Health Ministry, at present, there is no proposal under consideration of the ministry to define junk food under the FSS Act. However, guidelines for making available wholesome, nutritious, safe and hygienic food to school children in the country have been framed by the Central Advisory Committee, FSSAI.

The committee constituted earlier this year under the chairmanship of Director, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad looked into the issues related to growing problems of obesity in children and its relationship with consumption of junk food. It had members from various institutions along with health ministry, Indian Council of Medical Research and Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI).

The committee has comprehensively reviewed the prevalent practices of regulation of junk food in 23 countries and also examined the legislative and institutional framework available in India. The committee has recommended labelling of prepackaged food, stating clearly as "unfit for infant, children, pregnant and lactating mothers or persons with specific ailments".