BS RAWAT
NEW DELHI: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a 10-point charter of regulations to clamp down on consumption of unhealthy food in school premises and within 50 meters of the school campus.

Unhealthy foods includes deep fried foods such as french fries, fried chips, sugar-sweetened carbonated or non-carbonated beverages, ready-to-eat foods, noodles, burgers, pizzas and confectionery items, among others, said an FSSAI statement.

“School Authority shall ensure that no person shall offer or expose for sale of pre-packaged foods which are referred to as foods high in fat, salt and sugar as per the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and display) Regulations, 2019, to school children in school canteens/mess premises/hostel kitchens or within 50 meters of the school campus,” the draft notification stated.

It also proposed that food companies that make HFSS products “shall not advertise or offer for free sale of such foods to children in school premises or within 50 meters of the school campus.”

The draft also proposes that food companies will “not market, sell, or give away low-nutrition foods anywhere on school campus, including through logos, brand names, posters, textbook covers etc.”

The country's food regulator has sought views from stakeholders on the draft notification before finalization of these regulations.