Regulation on Junk Food to Check Obesity food for School Children

Restriction on sale of foods High in Fat, Salt, and Sugar (HFSS) to school children in school canteens/mess premises/hostel kitchens or within 50 meters of the school campus

On February 10th, 2023, the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, provided responses to questions concerning the Regulation on Junk Food to Check Obesity during Parliament.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has informed that to ensure safe and wholesome food for school children, it has notified the Food Safety and Standards (Safe food and balanced diets for children in school) Regulations, 2020.

These regulations place a restriction on sale of foods High in Fat, Salt and Sugar (HFSS) to school children in school canteens/mess premises/hostel kitchens or within 50 meters of the school campus and also a restriction on advertisement of such products in these areas. Regulations aim to encourage schools to adopt a comprehensive program for promoting Safe food and healthy diets amongst school children and to convert school campus into Eat Right School focusing safe and healthy food, local and seasonal food and no food waste as per specified benchmarks.

FSSAI has also notified Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 prescribing requirements for labelling of packaged food. The Regulation requires display of nutrients and their contribution to Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) in percentage at the back of the pack as Nutritional Information to enable consumers to make informed choice. It is mandatory for Food Business Operators (FBOs) to label the food package in accordance with these Regulations.

Restriction on sale of foods High in Fat, Salt, and Sugar (HFSS) to school children in school canteens/mess premises/hostel kitchens or within 50 meters of the school campus

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