Nov 8, 2019
Chennai: As FSSAI proposes junk food ban, schools say curbs in place
CHENNAI: Amid a push to curb junk food consumption among children, many city schools said they have banned items such as chips, pizza, burgers and some baked products on campus, though they said they can’t do much about the sale of unhealthy food in the vicinity of the institutions.
With the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) proposing a ban on foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) in schools and within 50metres of the campuses, principals have welcomed the move.
FSSAI has sought public comments on the draft Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and healthy diets for School Children) Regulations, 2019, which listed several measures for monitoring the quality of food sold and supplied to school children. It advises curbing availability of HFSS foods such as French fries, fried chips, samosa, chola bhatura, gulab jamun, carbonated beverages, confectionery, noodles, pizza and burgers.
“The proposed ban is a good move. We are discouraging packaged food items on our campus,” said Radhika Unni, principal, SBOA School and Junior College, Anna Nagar. “But, there are vendors selling junk food like chaat items near the school after school hours. As it’s outside the school, we do not have any control. Everytime we send them away with the help of police, they return after 30minutes,” she said, adding that the school offers healthy items like chappathi and dhal to the students.
P G Subramanian, principal of Bhavan’s Rajaji Vidhyashram in Kilpauk said awareness on the ills of junk food is slowly spreading among schools and students. “We cannot eradicate junk food immediately. Many schools are trying to avoid junk food on campus. In our school, we have banned almost 90% of junk food items. But, we cannot do much about their availability outside the school,” he said.
However, parents complained that some schools continue to sell food rich in carbohydrates and fat such as pasta and channa samosa in their canteen.
R Srinivasa Raghavan, principal, Bala Vidyamandir Senior Secondary School in Adyar, said banning junk food in schools and within 50metres from the institutions would not yield results. “They say liquor drinking is not good but everywhere we have shops, likewise for tobacco. We will allow the shops and then create awareness. If food items like pizza or burger is not good for health, they should cancel the licence for these shops instead of banning sales in or outside schools,” he said.
As our students are from the neighbourhood, we do not have a canteen. But, we have banned chocolates along with junk food and are creating awareness through the health club among primary, middle and secondary students. Though teachers advise, we can’t say students refrain from having junk food,” said K Mohana, principal, Modern Senior Secondary School, Nanganallur.
A majority of government schools do not have canteens. But, they are also creating awareness on junk food and its side effects. “Some junk foods can cause severe health complications. So, we advise our students to stop eating packaged food items, including chips and noodles,” said R C Saraswathi, headmistress, Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Ashok Nagar.
Junking fast food: On norms against food rich in fat, sugar and salt
Enforcement is key in preventing school children from accessing unhealthy food
In a welcome step, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has notified a draft regulation aimed at prohibiting the sale and advertisement of food rich in fat, sugar and salt to schoolchildren inside the school premises and within 50 m around it. It comes in response to the 2015 order from the Delhi High Court directing the central agency to frame norms to promote healthy diets in schools. Besides prohibiting the sale of junk food, the FSSAI requires schools to simultaneously encourage and promote a safe and balanced diet. In a bid to shield the children from consuming unhealthy food items and snacks, the FSSAI prohibits food companies that manufacture such items from advertising or offering for free such foods in school premises and within 50 m of the campus. To thwart food companies from luring children to consume foods rich in fat, sugar and salt, the companies are prohibited from using their logos, brand names and product names on books and other educational materials, as well as on school property such as buildings, buses, and athletic fields. As a general guidance to provide wholesome food, the agency recommends the use of a combination of whole grains, milk, eggs, and millets; it also listed a set of general guidelines for selection of food products that can be offered in schools.
Even as malnutrition accounted for over seven lakh (68%) deaths in children under the age of five years in 2017 in India, there is rising obesity in schoolchildren in many States. According to a July 2017 study, India, with 14.4 million, had the second most number of obese children among 195 countries. A recent study found 23 States to have child overweight prevalence more than the national average, with six States having a prevalence of over 20%. Several studies have shown how a western diet affects the composition and diversity of gut bacteria and sets the stage for many metabolic diseases. Hence, any attempt to reduce and discourage the intake of unhealthy foods, which is a major cause of unhealthy weight gain in children, should be welcomed. The challenge will be in enforcement, particularly in preventing the sale and promotion of unhealthy food near schools. For instance, despite the sale and advertisement of tobacco products within 100 yards of a school being prohibited, violation is more the norm than the exception. Shops that sell tobacco products very often also sell many of the packaged unhealthy foods that the FSSAI now wants to ban. The onus of inculcating healthy eating habits also starts at home. Besides taking steps to reduce the intake of unhealthy food, both schools and parents should ensure children get adequate physical activity, which is increasingly being neglected for various reasons. It is a combination of healthy food and regular physical activity that will go a long way in bringing up healthier children.
Traders, manufacturers told to get rid of excessive colours
A large number of candy traders and manufacturers from the city took part in a meeting conducted jointly by food safety officials and the District Small Scale Candy and Biscuits Manufacturers Association at Ismailpuram in Madurai on Thursday.
Food safety officials led by designated officer for food safety, Madurai, Dr M Somasundaram addressed the meet, which was attended by more than 100 members of the association. Officials explained the legal aspects of manufacturing and selling substandard products and excessive usage of colours. The members were told to immediately get rid of candies prepared using excessive colours.
Somasundaram asked the traders to get bills from manufacturers without fail as it will be a proof to take action against them for the issues found in the food materials distributed by them. At present, most of the manufacturers are not issuing bills and traders do not press for it.
One of the sellers said that most of the manufacturers are part of cottage industry and do not have bill books with them. Somasundaram said that it is a must to obtain bills and they will surely issue it if insisted.
The food safety officials said that the 100 parts per million standards was fixed way back in 1950’s, at a time when people do not get to eat food purchased from outside. Nowadays, people eat food items purchased outside every single day. It is better to manufacture and sell food products without any colour. They are regulating all industries such as hotels, bakeries and snack shop on using colours, they said.
Food adulterers to be fined Rs 1L at Baliyatra
Cuttack: Health department officials have warned food vendors to remain extra vigilant during the upcoming Baliyatra as they could face a hefty fine for adulteration. Compared to Rs 500 earlier, the vendors will be imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh in case the food sold by them is found to be adulterated under the revised Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Act.
City health officer Umesh Panigrahi said, “As per the new regulations of FSSAI, a corporation health officer is authorized to impose the fine on the spot. Earlier, we were imposing a fine of Rs 500 on vendors for violation of the food safety policy. But this year, the FSSAI has given us guidelines to slap a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh if food articles are found to be unsafe for human consumption.”
He added, “We have already informed the food vendors to be cautious about the safety and hygiene of food during Baliyatra this year. If anyone is found to be guilty of such offences, immediate action will be taken against the vendors. The license of the food vendor may be cancelled.”
Panigrahi further said maximum weightage will be given to the hygiene of food during Baliyatra this year with a provision of a hefty fine for adulteration.
Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has one food safety inspector. “We have hired three food safety officers from the food safety commissioner’s Bhubaneswar office and two retired food safety officers for checking the quality of food this year,” CMC commissioner Ananya Das said.
As per the new FSSAI rules, anyone who stores, sells or distributes any food article unsafe for human consumption will be punishable where the contravention does not lead to injury – an imprisonment of three months and a fine up to Rs 1 Lakh will be imposed. Even adulteration of food will be a serious offence where one can be booked under the FSSAI Act and a hefty penalty would be imposed on the vendors.
Contaminated rice stock seized
Workers unloading stock develop uneasiness and get hospitalised
The food safety authorities here on Thursday seized 81 sacks of rice on suspicion of chemical contamination. Unnikrishnan Nair P., Assistant Commissioner of Food Safety, said the sacks were seized following reports that five workers who had been unloading the stock at a shop in Peroor developed uneasiness and were hospitalised. During an inspection, the workers also recovered a few empty packets of aluminium phosphide along with the rice sacks.
“The rice stock was being transported from a godown at Ettumanoor and preliminary probe suggests that the chemical, a highly toxic one often used as a fumigant in godowns, somehow got into it. Samples have been collected and sent to the government analytical lab in the capital,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the authorities also inspected the godown where the stock had been kept and collected evidence. Further course of action will be decided upon receiving the sample analysis report. Besides the food safety department, the police too have launched a probe into the episode.
Food safety drive: FSSAI chief on 3-day State tour
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Chairperson Rita Teaotia is on a visit to Odisha to take stock of efforts for ensuring food safety compliance in the State.
Teaotia is on a three-day tour from Thursday as the FSSAI has started a special drive for licensing and registration of food businesses operators (FBO).
The FSSAI has directed the State food safety authorities to take it up to ensure food safety compliance under their jurisdiction. There is a special drive started from October 1 will continue till December 31.
During the visit, she will meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy as well as Secretary Health and Family Welfare PK Meherda.
Teaotia will discuss issues with the Commissioner Food Safety and Food Safety Enforcement Officer regarding food safety measures being taken up in the State.
She will be meeting FBOs representing various food sectors at various levels along with Food Safety Commissioners.
Teaotia will also visit State food safety laboratory and will guide the authorities about the latest steps to be taken for improvement.
She will guide the State authorities for strengthening the laboratory infrastructure in the State.
The FSSAI Chairperson is visiting various States as FSSAI has started a special drive to address various non-compliances for food safety norms.
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