Why junk food should not be sold in school canteens

Women and Child Development (WCD) minister Maneka Gandhi’s demand for a ban on junk food in school canteens could help address problems relating to obesity that are increasingly being seen in children hailing from middle class families. She has also sought the notification of new food guidelines that define junk food and categorise it by nutritional value. Currently, there is poor understanding among parents and children about the dangers posed by processed foods, especially those foods high in fat, salt and sugar. In an impressive attempt to kickstart inter-ministerial dialogue, Maneka has written to her colleagues in two stakeholder ministries — HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Health Minister JP Nadda. Maneka would know that Irani’s backing is needed to implement her suggestion of a junk food ban in schools while Nadda will be key to what could be a comprehensive reform of nutritional labelling.

Recently, a WCD ministry panel had advocated ban on sale of junk foods in school canteens and entry of private vendors and hawkers within 200 meters of the premises during school hours. The committee even suggested that shops stop selling proprietary foods to children in school uniform, and ensure that school canteens not stock non-standardised proprietary foods with poor nutritional value. Another important strategy is the implementation of colour coding on food packets. It has been suggested that healthy foods like vegetables, legumes, fruits, grains, lean meat, fish and eggs be colour-coded as green, vegetable-based snacks and ice creams coded yellow, and the “prohibited” foods like confectionery, energy drinks and fried packaged foods coded orange. But it is also important that such colour codes on food packets are clearly visible and draw consumer attention. For a while now, different colour codes are used to distinguish toothpastes by their chemical composition but few are aware of it or can spot the tiny colour code at the tube’s base. In a related context, the Health Minister has been opposing the increase in size of pictorial warnings on tobacco packets despite it being a cost-effective way to raise awareness on cancer. Food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur was at the forefront of those opposing the Maggi ban. Nadda and Kaur’s stances indicate that there could be staunch resistance to Maneka’s proposals.

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Many states have banned the sale of tobacco and liquor products near schools and colleges. But unlike liquor vends which require a civic licence, preventing tobacco hawkers from going near schools is proving difficult. A similar problem can be anticipated in banning junk food products outside campuses. But there are no such excuses for clamping down on junk food sale in canteens. The recommended foods in canteens include wheat and multi-grain rotis and parathas, chana, rajma, vegetable sandwich, upma, jaljeera and coconut water. Those prohibited include colas, chips, noodles, pizzas, burgers and rasagullas. A reading of this list indicates that the processed food industry will have much to lose if the ban is imposed. There is a growing body of scientific evidence linking junk food to lifestyle diseases like diabetes and arteriosclerosis which policymakers cannot ignore. In April 2014, the US Department of Agriculture imposed a ban on junk food in schools taking cognisance of the medical evidence. A study published in the reputed medical journal Lancet notes that India is the third most obese country in the world, behind the US and China, with 30 million obese people. When more and more young people contract lifestyle diseases in the most productive age group, the loss of productivity, and treatment and lifelong medication costs, will burden the national economy. While the loss of revenues for the food processing industry is unfortunate, public health, especially of children, must get due precedence.