Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi, wants to see the junk food removed from all school canteens across the nation and should be replaced with the healthy food options.
The term ‘junk food’ is not defined in the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act but the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) says, “it is understood that any food that has poor nutritional value and is considered unhealthy may be called as junk food.”
On the basis of the PIL filed by Uday Foundation, an NGO, seeking a ban on junk food in school canteens, the Delhi High Court has set up a panel that has been looking into ‘junk food’ habits of school going children and the panel’s recommendations are still awaited.
The Health Ministry in an affidavit to the Delhi High Court in the same PIL has stated that junk food lacks micro-nutrients like vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fibre but is high in energy. Junk food is responsible for obesity, dental cavities, diabetes and heart diseases as studies have shown that it is high in fat, sodium and sugar. In this regard the FSSAI is soon going to come out with its guidelines for quality food in school canteens but after it completes a project and gets the approval of the guidelines by a scientific panel.
The guidelines from FSSAI are still to come but The Women and Child Development Minister, in order to provide impetus to ban junk food in school canteens, is making every effort to get this ban as part of food safety plan in FSSAI regulations as it involves the health of the children. Mrs. Gandhi is likely to take up the matter with the Union HRD and Health Ministries as Mid-day meal scheme is under the HRD Ministry and FSSAI constituted under the Health Ministry.
Ramesh Kumar Sharma says
In my opinion junk food should not be allowed in any canteen of public significance including defense and railways.