Maharashtra Bans Junk Food Near Schools as Doctors Praise Major Child Health Move

Dr Rahul Verma, Director of Paediatrics and Neonatology at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, called the decision a “genuinely significant” step, highlighting the importance of reducing children’s exposure to unhealthy food choices.

“This year, we have adopted a mission-mode approach to implement food safety regulations and balanced diet norms in every school across Maharashtra. This will ensure stricter implementation. Every food business operator (FBO) must be licensed, display the required boards and appoint supervisors and health ambassadors. In addition, the sale of HFSS (high fat, sugar and salt) food items within a 50-metre radius of schools is prohibited. High-fat and high-sugar food items are not allowed,” Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Tukaram Mundhe told media outlets today.

He added, “Guidelines for a balanced diet have already been issued by the National Institute of Nutrition, and based on these, the FSSAI introduced regulations in 2020. From this year, these rules will be implemented strictly. We have prepared for this over the past couple of months and have already trained nearly 5,000 teachers. More training will be provided wherever required.”

Doctors said the initiative goes beyond simply restricting junk food sales. Dr Datta Nirgude, Consultant Physician, Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, told TOI Health that prevention involves creating healthier food environments.

“At the time the program understood that prevention is not only about refusing junk food. Actions like requiring FSSAI licenses for school canteens, checking regularly and promoting choices, like fruits, pulses and whole grains help build an environment that encourages better eating habits,” Dr Nirgude said.

Dr Verma pointed to the extensive reach of the order, which covers over 1.08 lakh schools and roughly two crore children across Maharashtra. The initiative applies to children ranging from 22 months of age to Class 12, making it a statewide measure covering students from preschool to board examination levels.

According to Dr Verma, the significance of the move lies in addressing both availability and normalization, which he identified as two major factors influencing childhood obesity. While children are often told that junk food is unhealthy, the presence of fried snacks near schools can make such foods appear like an everyday normal choice.

He explained that school environments play a major role in shaping eating habits because children spend six to seven hours a day in schools, five days a week, for several years. When greasy, fried and sugar-loaded snacks are easily available and treated as routine, they can become the standard food choices children grow up with. Reducing this constant exposure around schools could influence how healthier eating habits develop among students.

The move has also received appreciation from the All India Parents Association Maharashtra, which posted on X: “Welcome Move @Tukaram_IndIAS we Appreciate the Mission Clean hygienic Nutrition Vitamins food for Childrens across All Schools In Maharashtra... Keep Going.”

Doctors also highlighted that the government action is not limited to a ban on specific food items. Dr Verma said the combination of mandatory FSSAI licensing, regular inspections and promotion of healthier food options such as fruits, pulses and whole grains provides a broader regulatory framework.

The initiative, supported by stricter implementation measures and teacher training, aims to create healthier food practices across Maharashtra’s schools by changing the environment in which children make daily food choices.