Saturday 16 March 2013

States, UTs urged to issue directions to schools to withdraw junk food

Saturday, March 16, 2013 08:00 IST 
Our Bureau, New Delh

The ministry of health and family welfare, Government of India has requested the chief ministers, the health ministers of all states and Union Territories and the minister of human resources development to issue directions to schools and colleges to withdraw junk food and carbonated beverages from their canteens, and promote healthy eating habits to make children aware of the benefits of consuming fruit, vegetables and whole grains.

In a written reply to a query in the Lok Sabha, health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said although the term junk food has not been defined under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, and Rules/Regulations made thereunder, foods with a high fat, salt and sugar content and with little or no protein, minerals and vitamins are considered as unhealthy foods and belong to the category of fast foods. 

As per Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling  Regulations, 2011, every pre-packaged food is required to contain on its label a list of ingredients in the descending order and nutrition information, calorie in Kcal, carbohydrate, protein and fat in g/100g or ml/100ml. If hydrogenated vegetable fat or bakery shortening is used in food, it must also be declared on the label that these contain trans-fats.


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