Stop selling junk food to students to curb obesity, diabetes - Maharashtra government tells school canteens

Maharashtra govt has asked school principals to ensure the junk food ban is strictly followed in their schools to prevent obesity, diabetes.

The Maharashtra government has issued an official ban on the sale of junk food in school canteens across the state. Citing increasing risk of lifestyle diseases like obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and tooth decay, the GR states that schools need to encourage healthy eating practices among school students. "Foods HFSS (high in fat, sugar and salt) lack nutrition, fibre, vitamins and minerals and their consumption leads to lifestyle diseases. This has a negative impact on the students' academic performance too," the GR states.

In the banned food items list, the Maharashtra state government has included items like fried foods, potato chips, pizzas, burgers, packaged juices, carbonated drinks, gulab jamun, ras gulla, pedha, kalakand, noodles, tikka, pani puri, candies, chocolates, items that contain more than 30 per cent sugar including jalebis, imartis, boondi, cakes, biscuits, buns, pastries, jam and jellies. It has also prepare a list of healthy food items school canteens need to stock up on -- wheat and multigrain rotis, parathas stuffed with seasonal vegetables, rice, sabzi, pulao, dal, sabzi pulao, chana sabzi, wheat halva, sweet or savoury wheat daliya, rajma chawal, kadhi, eggs, bulguar wheat upma, khichdi, dal kattu, payasam, idli, wada, sambar, kheer, firni, curd, buttermilk and lassi (with little sugar), sandwiches, coconut water, shikanji, jal jeera etc.

Here is the GR as tweeted by the PR department of the Maharashtra government -

The School Education dept on imposed a ban on sale of High in Fat, Salt & Sugar (HFSS) Food in School Canteens across d state from Monday. pic.twitter.com/dMWaMRx8f5 MAHARASHTRA DGIPR (@MahaDGIPR) May 8, 2017

The ban on junk food items in schools was first implemented by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) board in 2016 after a report was prepared by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) and National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad highlighting the rise in the number of lifestyle diseases. How has you kid's school reacted to this ban on junk food? Do you agree with this? Comment below and share this story to spread awareness about the junk food ban.

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