Junk food is expelled from the school and its vicinity in India. This measure is considered indispensable by the national food safety agency in order to protect the health of children and minors from the risks of obesity and related diseases. (1)
India, junk food is expelled from school
La Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has published a regulation scheme aimed at expelling HFSS foods (High in fat, sugar and salt) from schools and their vicinity, within 50 meters. French fries, sugary sodas, snacks and others ultra-processed food with unacceptable nutritional profiles.
The school it must become the place to educate on proper nutrition, according to the FSSAI. Which also provides information on the correct nutrition of children in school canteens, according to the guidelines of National Institute of Nutrition (NIN).
Choose healthy food and safe, local and seasonal, avoiding waste. These are the mantra given to school canteens, where nutritionists intervene to help prepare the menus and verify the implementation of the provisions.
India, guideline for school canteens
A guideline addressed to school canteens is attached to the FSSAI regulation scheme. Clear and simple requirements, to mitigate the risks associated withglobal obesity epidemic:
- maintain stable schedules, for school meals, to educate children at the 'right time for food',
- provide safe and free drinking water to all students,
- include a variety of foods in the weekly menus, to offer students a combination of proteins and cereals, but also the necessary micronutrients,
- combine the intake of whole grains and foods of animal origin, such as milk and eggs. In compliance with seasonality, freshness and local supplies,
- limit the consumption of desserts, packaged foods, baked goods and prepackaged drinks,
- contain within 25g per capita the daily intake of fats, avoiding their cooking,
- weight the diet in order to provide 100-150 kcal in each snack and 300-500 kcal in each meal. With a daily intake of 18-20g of protein and micronutrients from fruit, vegetables or fortified foods,
- a more nutritious menu, even with the addition of food supplements, can be provided to athletes and students engaged in sports activities.
India, the childhood obesity crisis
A scientific study on the pandemic of childhood obesity, published in 2017 in the New England Journal of Medicine, had indicated India as the second country in the world for the prevalence of this disease (14,4 million cases), after China (15,3 million). Out of a total of 108 million obese children estimated at the time in the world. (2)
The measures taken by the Indian food safety agency - although, on the surface, almost 'radical' - they are indeed milder than the indications of the pediatric society. ThereIndian Academy of Paediatrics'had in turn published, a few months earlier, its nutritional recommendations invoking the ban on the sale of JUNCS foods (junk food, ultra-processed food, nutritionally inappropriate foods, caffeinated / colored / carbonated beverages, sugar-sweetened beverages) in school canteens and within a radius of 200 meters from schools.
The recommendations of pediatricians Indians included among other things the total ban on all forms of advertising and marketing of JUNCS products. Also on the web and social media. As well as the adoption of fiscal strategies to promote the consumption of healthy food and limit the availability and consumption of junk food.
The settlement scheme of the FSSAI was published on 30 October 2019, with the possibility for the social parties concerned to send comments within the following 30 days.
Marta Strinati and Dario Dongo
Footnotes
(1) https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Draft_Notification_School_Children_04_11_2019.pdf
(2) The GBD 2015 Obesity Collaborators. (2017). Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity in 195 Countries over 25 Years. N Engl J Med 2017; 377: 13-27. doi: 10.1056 / NEJMoa1614362
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
A professional journalist since January 1995, she has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic studies on food and has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
