Maharashtra Govt. bans sale of junk foods and soft drinks in school canteens

09 May, Mumbai

The Maharashtra government has imposed a ban on the sale of junk food in school canteens across the state.

A Government Resolution said, potato chips, noodles, carbonated soft drinks, pizzas, burgers, cakes, biscuits, buns, pastries, etc. cannot be sold. It gave a list of 20 items that can be sold, which include wheat roti, vegetable pulav, idli-vada, coconut water and jaljira.

The decision was taken on the recommendations of the Task Force, formed by the central government, to promote consumption of healthy food by children in schools and to ban sale of junk food.

The task force, in its report, had said junk food containing high levels of fat, salt and sugar and very little nutritional content leads to obesity, dental diseases, diabetes and heart ailments in later life.