CBSE Schools Canteens to Stop Selling Fast Food

In a directive to all the schools under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the board has said that food items like chips, carbonated drinks, ready to eat noodles, pizzas, burgers and confectionary items like chocolates, candies will not be allowed to sell in the canteens of these schools. The board has also advised its affiliated schools to try and make sure that such food items are not available in the 200 meter range of the school premises.

The fast food and the high saturated fat, salt and sugar associated with it has caused many diseases including type 2 diabetes, hypertension and other such ailments among the kids. Hence the circular issued to all the CBSE affiliated schools, has mentioned that consumption of such food items by the kids should be reduced. CBSE Secretary Joseph Emmanuel, by referring the report of Women and Child Development Ministry pointed out to the schools on how to control the endemic problem of consumption of junk food available in and around schools. In the report there are mentions of such fast foods which are easily available in the school canteens, which the children consume on a daily basis. The schools are being urged by the CBSE to keep these High in Fat, Salt and Sugar (HFSS) foods away from the reach of students in the schools.

In its circular it has said that the schools should constitute ‘School Canteen Management Committee’ which should have 7 to 10 members including the teachers, parents, students and school canteen operators to implement and monitor the guidelines, so that the food available in the school could becomes safe and consumable for kids.