By RJ Whitehead,12-Aug-2013
India’s central government has proposed initial moves to phase out the sale of unhealthy food in school canteens.
After submitting a set of draft guidelines of the items to be covered by the ban to the Delhi High Court, the Centre is expected to begin the move with schools in the capital. Judges there are expected to look into the report over the coming week.
Moreover, government agencies are also looking at way to highlight the benefits of consuming healthy food through television and social media.
‘Reckless habits’
“The problem of obesity among children is on the rise mainly due to reckless dietary habits. Based on a study conducted by the health ministry and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, we can say that junk food items such as burgers, pizzas, chips, fries, samosas, biscuits etc. sold rampantly in school and college canteens contain no vitamins or proteins and are instead high on salt, sugar and saturated fat.
“The food available in and around schools thus, must be nutritionally balanced,” the draft document reads.
Citing studies that indicate that reducing healthy food prices leads to a rise in their consumption, the guidelines added that school management and canteen committees should look at way to subsidise the prices of healthy food items and make sure they are prominently available around schools.
It also called for school canteens to come up with diversified diets with a judicious mix of a variety of food groups. “Cereals, millets and pulses must also included in food items available in canteens,” it said.
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