A new initiative is being worked on at the central level to keep school going children away from junk food. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is considering a proposal to ban the sale of high fat, salt and sugar foods i.e. HFS/HSS Food around schools.
Under the proposal, the sale of food items that contain more than the prescribed limit of fat, salt or sugar can be banned within 50 meters of schools. However, this proposal has not been implemented yet and suggestions are being taken from the common people and concerned parties.
What things can be affected?
If the proposal is implemented, many popular food items sold around schools may come under its purview. These may include products high in salt, sugar or fat such as chips, sweetened drinks, chocolate, instant noodles, samosas, burgers and pizza.
However, restrictions on a particular product will be based on its prescribed nutritional limit. That is, not only the name of the food item will be the basis for ban, but the amount of fat, salt and sugar present in it will be important.
Possibility of impact around 15 lakh schools
If this proposal is implemented, it can affect the shops, restaurants and food stalls around 15 lakh schools across the country. FSSAI aims to reduce children's easy access to foods that are considered harmful to health when consumed in large quantities.
According to FSSAI, shopkeepers will be allowed to sell food items that do not fall within the prescribed HSS standards. Along with this, the aim of the proposal is also to encourage food companies to reduce the amount of fat, salt and sugar in their products.
Suggestions sought till October 6
FSSAI had in August issued a proposal regarding setting limits on fat, salt and sugar in HSS foods. On this, suggestions and objections have been sought from the concerned parties and the general public till October 6.
That means this is not the final rule at the moment. After the completion of the process of suggestions and objections, the situation will be clear regarding further action and final rules.
Shopkeepers expressed concern about business being affected
Some shopkeepers doing business near schools have expressed concern about the proposal. Some shopkeepers in Bhubaneswar say that if a ban is imposed on the sale of such products, their sales and earnings may be affected.
Business organizations have also raised questions regarding monitoring and enforcement of rules. The Confederation of Indian Food Trade and Industry says many schools are located amidst busy markets, where shops sell goods not only to students but also to general customers. In such places, enforcing and monitoring rules within a radius of 50 meters can be challenging.
System already implemented in Maharashtra
An example of the already strict system regarding HSS food items is being given around schools in Maharashtra. According to available data, during inspection of shops within 50 meters of schools, violations of rules were found at 133 places. Of these, 51 shops were instructed to close their business.
Concern about increasing obesity in children
Concern about children's health is also a major reason behind reducing the availability of junk food around schools. According to World Obesity Federation data, the number of children aged 5 to 19 years affected by overweight or obesity in India was about 2.8 crore in 2015, which will increase to about 4.1 crore in 2025. According to estimates, this number may reach around 56 million by 2040.
Such a proposal was also put forward in 2020
The proposal to ban the sale of HSS food items around schools was first discussed in 2020. However, no definite deadline has been set yet for this.
At present the new proposal of FSSAI is in the process of suggestions and objections. Therefore, it would not be correct to say that there will be an immediate nationwide ban on the sale of chips, pizza, burgers or other HSS food items around schools.
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