In a significant move to promote student health, schools throughout Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra have begun a comprehensive overhaul of their canteen offerings. Fried snacks, sugary drinks, and other high-fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) items are being removed, with parents also encouraged to provide more nutritious lunchbox options.
Junk Food Ban Implemented
The changes stem from a directive issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and subsequently reinforced by the state school education department. Schools are now strictly implementing the Food Safety and Standards (Safe food and balanced diets for children in school) Regulations, 2020. This mandate extends beyond school gates, prohibiting the sale of HFSS foods within a 50-meter radius of campuses.
For many students, the days of grabbing a vada pao, samosa, or a soft drink from the canteen are over. Institutions like those under the Archdiocesan Board of Education (ABE) have replaced these popular items with healthier alternatives such as idli, dosa, poha, sheera, and upma. Aerated drinks have been completely banned, and other fried items have been removed from menus.
FDA Enforcement and School Responsibilities
FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has been instrumental in driving this food safety crackdown. He recently held an online meeting with Zilla Parishad chief executive officers and the Education Commissioner, directing prompt implementation of the order and awareness programs for school heads and food committees.
Schools are now tasked with ensuring no HFSS food vendors operate near their premises. While schools lack the authority to remove sellers directly, they are required to report non-compliant food business operators to the FDA or, in rural areas, to gram panchayats and sarpanchs.
Promoting Healthy Habits
An awareness campaign was conducted in Mumbai, training 900 representatives from government and private schools, along with 50 midday meal suppliers, on compliance. Educational networks, such as Podar Education, have re-shared materials on healthy eating habits with parents and replaced celebratory cakes and sweets with fresh fruit.
Parents at schools like Sacred Heart School in Santacruz and DAV Public School in Thane have received guidelines to avoid junk food, packaged juices, and fried items, instead opting for freshly cooked food in stainless steel boxes. Sri Ma Vidyalaya in Thane has replaced soft drinks with healthier options like chaas.
The initiative has largely been welcomed by parents, who see it as a positive step towards ensuring children receive at least one or two healthy meals daily. However, parent associations are also calling for broader regulations targeting retailers and sellers of junk food beyond school vicinities to create a more comprehensive healthy food environment.