FDA asks Maharashtra schools to stop selling junk food children love

According to the World Health Organization, healthy eating in childhood promotes optimal growth and development while reducing the risk of overweight, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other non-communicable diseases later in life. Even UNICEF notes that diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses, dairy, eggs, and other protein-rich foods provide essential vitamins and minerals that support immune function and help children fight infections. Keeping these key points in view, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe recently directed all schools in the state to ban the sale of unhealthy foods, such as chocolates, chips and cold drinks, from campuses, citing widespread non-compliance with a 2020 central regulation. According to the official release, the sale, display, or advertisement of foods high in saturated fat, trans-fat, added sugar or sodium (HFSS) is also prohibited on or within 50 metres of the school campuses.