FSSAI plans ban on junk food sales within 50 metres of schools
FSSAI is preparing a proposal to stop sale of high fat, sugar and salt foods near schools to curb rising child obesity.
Children are so fond of chips, cold drinks, samosas and burgers that crowds gather at canteens and roadside carts the moment the school bell rings. But the government is now preparing to stop these tasty and unhealthy items from being sold near schools. The central government is set to take a major step to protect children from obesity and junk food addiction, driven by steadily rising child obesity figures in the country.
The plan is to ban the sale of junk food falling in the High Fat, Sugar and Salt (HFSS) category within a 50 metre radius of schools. The new proposal would cover around 1.5 million schools across the country. Local shopkeepers as well as large multinational companies have raised concerns over this, but the government's aim is clear: to make the coming generation healthier.
The craze for junk food among children in the country has grown rapidly. Because of low prices and attractive advertising, products from brands such as PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Mondelez and Nestle have become children's first choice. Instead of nutritious home-cooked food, many children prefer packaged chips or chocolate. To change this habit, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has prepared a new framework.
According to the proposal, shops and carts within 50 metres of schools could be barred from selling items such as chips, cold drinks, chocolate and pizza-burgers. FSSAI Chief Executive Rajit Punhani said the aim is to instil healthy eating habits in children. Shopkeepers would be allowed to sell non-HFSS, or healthy, items, which would also pressure companies to improve the recipes of their products.
This growing junk food addiction is not only India's problem but a worldwide concern. Figures from the World Obesity Federation are alarming. Children aged 5 to 19 in the country who were overweight or obese numbered around 28 million in 2015. This figure has risen to 41 million in 2025, and is projected to reach 56 million by 2040.
Changing lifestyles and easy availability of cheap junk food are making the problem worse. This is why states such as Maharashtra have taken a strict stance, launching action against shops selling such items near schools. At the international level, countries such as Chile offer an example, where strict rules have led to a reduction in the problem of rising weight among children.
