Schools told to keep junk food 50m away, serve nutritional and balanced meals

MUMBAI: In a move aimed at making school food safer and healthier, the state school education department has directed all government, aided and unaided private schools to strictly enforce food safety norms and keep high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt (HFSS) food away from students

MUMBAI: In a move aimed at making school food safer and healthier, the state school education department has directed all government, aided and unaided private schools to strictly enforce food safety norms and keep high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt (HFSS) food away from students.

The directions apply to pre-primary, primary, secondary and residential schools and come after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stepped up action against mid-day meal cooking centres and school canteens.

Under the new guidelines, HFSS food cannot be sold, distributed or advertised on school premises or within 50 metres of a school. Schools have also been directed to ensure that advertisements for such food do not appear on computers or other digital facilities used on their premises.

The department has asked schools to ensure that canteens, hostels and kitchens regularly include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses, dairy products and other locally available nutritious foods in their menus. Meals served to students should meet their nutritional requirements and provide adequate carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fibre, iron, calcium, vitamins and other essential minerals.

The guidelines are based on the Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diets for School Children) Regulations, 2020, and an FDA order issued on July 28.

The latest directions also place greater responsibility on school managements for the safety of food served to students. Schools must ensure that every food operator working on their premises has a valid registration or licence from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Where food is prepared on the school premises, the school will also have to ensure that the required FSSAI registration is in place.

School authorities have been made responsible for maintaining hygiene and food safety standards, including proper storage of food, temperature control, pest control, waste management and personal hygiene among food handlers. Schools have also been asked to appoint a food safety supervisor and display a food safety information board.

The department has further directed schools to adopt an “Eat Right School” plan. This will require schools to formulate a nutrition policy, ensure access to safe drinking water throughout the school day and conduct at least four awareness sessions on food safety and nutrition during every academic year.

The school canteen and mid-day meal system, the department said, should serve as examples of healthy eating for students.

Schools have also been asked to educate students and parents about the health risks associated with HFSS and highly processed foods, while making them aware of their right to safe and nutritious food.

The guidelines come amid increased inspections by the FDA of food preparation centres and school canteens for the safety and nutritional quality of food being served to children.