No vada pav, samosas, ice cream: Maharashtra's big junk food crackdown in schools
The Maharashtra FDA has prohibited the sale, free distribution and advertising of junk food within schools and a 50-metre radius of them. The food body has also made food licences compulsory for all school canteens.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the sale, free distribution and advertising of junk food in and around schools to promote healthier eating habits among children.
Under the new directive, foods high in fat, trans-fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) cannot be sold, distributed free of cost or advertised within school premises or within a 50-metre radius of them.
The ban covers popular items such as vada pav, samosas, deep-fried snacks, chips, cold drinks, sugary beverages, chocolates and ice cream. The order applies to all schools across Maharashtra and is expected to impact over 2 crore students.
While announcing the directive on Wednesday, Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe emphasised that schools would be accountable for enforcing the ban and specified the junk food items covered under it.
"I want to make it clear that excess fat, excess trans fat and excess sugar products, including deeply fried foods, excessive sugar drinks, vada pav, samosa, cold drinks, chocolates and ice cream, such junk foods are strictly not allowed inside schools to be sold, not be distributed freely, advertise and also not in the surrounding (50 metres range). Principal and School Management should implement this strictly, and there should also be awareness about it among parents," he said.
Mundhe warned that principals and school managements failing to comply with the order would face action and said that FDA inspectors will visit each school at least twice a year to ensure compliance.
"We will start inspections across the State soon. FDA along with School Management will be happy to take a workshop at District level and Taluka level to implement it smoothly," Munde added.
Mundhe said the directive aims to cover children between the ages of 22 months and 17 years, and applies to all schools in Maharashtra, irrespective of the education board, covering both government and private institutions.
He said the FDA's objective was to promote the physical and mental development of children. "Children need a healthy and balanced diet during their growing years. Proper nutrition, vitamins and essential nutrients are critical for their overall development," he said.
LICENCES FOR SCHOOL CANTEENS NOW MANDATORY
Mundhe also announced that food safety licences have been made mandatory for school canteens across Maharashtra.
"The Food Safety and Standards Regulations have been in force since 2021, and we issued the compliance order on July 28. Going forward, only licensed vendors will be allowed to operate school canteens. Schools that wish to run canteens themselves will have to obtain a licence from the FDA," he said.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, the Maharashtra food body had earlier this month had suspended licences of three eateries in Mumbai after inspections uncovered serious lapses in hygiene and compliance with food safety norms.
The action followed six inspections carried out by the department, which found multiple violations at food establishments in Bhendi Bazaar and Umarkhadi.
According to the FDA, one eatery's licence was suspended on July 14 after a re-inspection a day earlier revealed that 25 major deficiencies flagged during an initial inspection on April 16 had still not been rectified, despite an improvement notice issued on April 28.
Officials found wet and slippery kitchen floors, no records of raw material procurement or drinking water quality testing, inadequate documentation on the quality of cooking oil, failure to maintain separate preparation areas for vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, and open windows without insect-proof screens, leaving the premises vulnerable to pest infestation.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the sale, free distribution and advertising of junk food in and around schools to promote healthier eating habits among children.
Under the new directive, foods high in fat, trans-fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) cannot be sold, distributed free of cost or advertised within school premises or within a 50-metre radius of them.
The ban covers popular items such as vada pav, samosas, deep-fried snacks, chips, cold drinks, sugary beverages, chocolates and ice cream. The order applies to all schools across Maharashtra and is expected to impact over 2 crore students.
While announcing the directive on Wednesday, Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe emphasised that schools would be accountable for enforcing the ban and specified the junk food items covered under it.
"I want to make it clear that excess fat, excess trans fat and excess sugar products, including deeply fried foods, excessive sugar drinks, vada pav, samosa, cold drinks, chocolates and ice cream, such junk foods are strictly not allowed inside schools to be sold, not be distributed freely, advertise and also not in the surrounding (50 metres range). Principal and School Management should implement this strictly, and there should also be awareness about it among parents," he said.
Mundhe warned that principals and school managements failing to comply with the order would face action and said that FDA inspectors will visit each school at least twice a year to ensure compliance.
"We will start inspections across the State soon. FDA along with School Management will be happy to take a workshop at District level and Taluka level to implement it smoothly," Munde added.
Mundhe said the directive aims to cover children between the ages of 22 months and 17 years, and applies to all schools in Maharashtra, irrespective of the education board, covering both government and private institutions.
He said the FDA's objective was to promote the physical and mental development of children. "Children need a healthy and balanced diet during their growing years. Proper nutrition, vitamins and essential nutrients are critical for their overall development," he said.
LICENCES FOR SCHOOL CANTEENS NOW MANDATORY
Mundhe also announced that food safety licences have been made mandatory for school canteens across Maharashtra.
"The Food Safety and Standards Regulations have been in force since 2021, and we issued the compliance order on July 28. Going forward, only licensed vendors will be allowed to operate school canteens. Schools that wish to run canteens themselves will have to obtain a licence from the FDA," he said.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, the Maharashtra food body had earlier this month had suspended licences of three eateries in Mumbai after inspections uncovered serious lapses in hygiene and compliance with food safety norms.
The action followed six inspections carried out by the department, which found multiple violations at food establishments in Bhendi Bazaar and Umarkhadi.
According to the FDA, one eatery's licence was suspended on July 14 after a re-inspection a day earlier revealed that 25 major deficiencies flagged during an initial inspection on April 16 had still not been rectified, despite an improvement notice issued on April 28.
Officials found wet and slippery kitchen floors, no records of raw material procurement or drinking water quality testing, inadequate documentation on the quality of cooking oil, failure to maintain separate preparation areas for vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, and open windows without insect-proof screens, leaving the premises vulnerable to pest infestation.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the sale, free distribution and advertising of junk food in and around schools to promote healthier eating habits among children.
Under the new directive, foods high in fat, trans-fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) cannot be sold, distributed free of cost or advertised within school premises or within a 50-metre radius of them.
The ban covers popular items such as vada pav, samosas, deep-fried snacks, chips, cold drinks, sugary beverages, chocolates and ice cream. The order applies to all schools across Maharashtra and is expected to impact over 2 crore students.
While announcing the directive on Wednesday, Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe emphasised that schools would be accountable for enforcing the ban and specified the junk food items covered under it.
"I want to make it clear that excess fat, excess trans fat and excess sugar products, including deeply fried foods, excessive sugar drinks, vada pav, samosa, cold drinks, chocolates and ice cream, such junk foods are strictly not allowed inside schools to be sold, not be distributed freely, advertise and also not in the surrounding (50 metres range). Principal and School Management should implement this strictly, and there should also be awareness about it among parents," he said.
Mundhe warned that principals and school managements failing to comply with the order would face action and said that FDA inspectors will visit each school at least twice a year to ensure compliance.
"We will start inspections across the State soon. FDA along with School Management will be happy to take a workshop at District level and Taluka level to implement it smoothly," Munde added.
Mundhe said the directive aims to cover children between the ages of 22 months and 17 years, and applies to all schools in Maharashtra, irrespective of the education board, covering both government and private institutions.
He said the FDA's objective was to promote the physical and mental development of children. "Children need a healthy and balanced diet during their growing years. Proper nutrition, vitamins and essential nutrients are critical for their overall development," he said.
LICENCES FOR SCHOOL CANTEENS NOW MANDATORY
Mundhe also announced that food safety licences have been made mandatory for school canteens across Maharashtra.
"The Food Safety and Standards Regulations have been in force since 2021, and we issued the compliance order on July 28. Going forward, only licensed vendors will be allowed to operate school canteens. Schools that wish to run canteens themselves will have to obtain a licence from the FDA," he said.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, the Maharashtra food body had earlier this month had suspended licences of three eateries in Mumbai after inspections uncovered serious lapses in hygiene and compliance with food safety norms.
The action followed six inspections carried out by the department, which found multiple violations at food establishments in Bhendi Bazaar and Umarkhadi.
According to the FDA, one eatery's licence was suspended on July 14 after a re-inspection a day earlier revealed that 25 major deficiencies flagged during an initial inspection on April 16 had still not been rectified, despite an improvement notice issued on April 28.
Officials found wet and slippery kitchen floors, no records of raw material procurement or drinking water quality testing, inadequate documentation on the quality of cooking oil, failure to maintain separate preparation areas for vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, and open windows without insect-proof screens, leaving the premises vulnerable to pest infestation.
