With an aim to promote healthy eating among school students, the Maharashtra government has now banned junk food from school canteens. Schools under the state government have been asked, through a GR issued on Monday, to ensure that no HFSS (high in fat, salt and sugar) food should be sold in canteens.
"The amount of sugar, salt and fat in HFSS foods and the lack of nutrients is causing obesity and other ailments among school-going children, which is affecting their academic performance and overall well-being. To curb this, junk food items mentioned in the GR need to be banned from school canteens," states the GR. According to the resolution, school principals and managements are entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that any of the items that the state has asked them to ban are not sold in school canteens.
The decision comes in the wake of a committee formed by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Welfare. One of the suggestions to curb malnutrition and other ailments among students was to decide what can be permitted and what should be banned in school canteens.
Some of the items that the government has strictly asked schools to ban from their canteens include potato chips, ice-lollies, noodles, pizzas, burgers, fried items, aerated and non-aerated cold drinks, cakes, biscuits, chocolates and candies, and jams and jellies. Principals said that the step would benefit a lot of students in the long run.
"Most school canteens usually serve fried items like vada pao and samosas as it is cheap and can be produced in large quantities in little time. In our school, we have changed the canteen menu from the upcoming year and have scrapped all junk food. Schools should also ensure that students carry tiffin from home to avoid eating out," said Swapna Trailokya, Principal, Parle Tilak Vidyalaya.
WHAT’S ON, OFF?
- Banned items: Chips, ice lollies, sherbats, gulab jamun, noodles, pizza, burger, and pani puri, among others.
- Recommended items: Paratha with vegatables, rajama rice, buttermilk and curd, among others.
