Unhealthy diets lead to metabolic changes and conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol.
Schools may soon have to stop serving food high in fat, sugar and salt, including deep-fried snacks like samosa and chana bhatura, under the guidelines issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The authority has issued draft guidelines on wholesome and nutritious food availability in schools that would be converted into a regulation in due course after following the prescribed process of inviting comments and suggestions from various stakeholders.
The guidelines, officials claim, would help control consumption of junk food among school children in India. Prepared by the an expert committee constituted by FSSAI, the guidelines provide a scientific background on how consumption of junk food high in fat, salt and sugar is linked with growing non-communicable diseases like obesity, diabetes and hypertension among children.
The draft guidelines have suggested a new policy for school canteens along with ban on sale of junk food in and around schools. "Canteens in schools should not be treated as commercial outlets. They have a social responsibility towards inculcating healthy eating behaviours. They should motivate children to consume healthy and hygienic food. A suitable canteen policy that ensures nutritious, wholesome and healthy food for children should be developed in consultation with the health ministry and education ministry," said the official.
"Unhealthy diet leads to metabolic changes and conditions such as overweight, high blood pressure, raised blood glucose and cholesterol, which are among the leading causes of no communicable disease deaths in India," said a senior official in FSSAI.
"Numerous studies conducted on school children of Delhi, Amritsar and Southern India show the increasing rate of obesity. In urban post-pubertal children, it has increased from 16 per cent (2002) to about 24 per cent (2006). It is high among the affluent class and children of private schools compared to low and middle-income groups," the official said.
NGOs have responded in positive to the guidelines. "We welcome the order issued by the food authority. It is important to regulate junk food in schools," said Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment.
Schools may soon have to stop serving food high in fat, sugar and salt, including deep-fried snacks like samosa and chana bhatura, under the guidelines issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The authority has issued draft guidelines on wholesome and nutritious food availability in schools that would be converted into a regulation in due course after following the prescribed process of inviting comments and suggestions from various stakeholders.
The guidelines, officials claim, would help control consumption of junk food among school children in India. Prepared by the an expert committee constituted by FSSAI, the guidelines provide a scientific background on how consumption of junk food high in fat, salt and sugar is linked with growing non-communicable diseases like obesity, diabetes and hypertension among children.
The draft guidelines have suggested a new policy for school canteens along with ban on sale of junk food in and around schools. "Canteens in schools should not be treated as commercial outlets. They have a social responsibility towards inculcating healthy eating behaviours. They should motivate children to consume healthy and hygienic food. A suitable canteen policy that ensures nutritious, wholesome and healthy food for children should be developed in consultation with the health ministry and education ministry," said the official.
"Unhealthy diet leads to metabolic changes and conditions such as overweight, high blood pressure, raised blood glucose and cholesterol, which are among the leading causes of no communicable disease deaths in India," said a senior official in FSSAI.
"Numerous studies conducted on school children of Delhi, Amritsar and Southern India show the increasing rate of obesity. In urban post-pubertal children, it has increased from 16 per cent (2002) to about 24 per cent (2006). It is high among the affluent class and children of private schools compared to low and middle-income groups," the official said.
NGOs have responded in positive to the guidelines. "We welcome the order issued by the food authority. It is important to regulate junk food in schools," said Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment.
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