Karnataka bans junk food near schools: Here's how it can reshape children's eating habits
The Karnataka government has issued an advisory prohibiting the sale, distribution, advertisement and promotion of foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) — commonly known as junk food — in schools and colleges, and within a 50-metre radius of educational institutions. The directive from the State's Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) aims to create healthier food environments for students at a time when childhood obesity and lifestyle-related diseases are on the rise.
The measure extends beyond school canteens. By applying restrictions to vendors operating near school gates, the government intends to reduce children's easy access to unhealthy foods during school hours. While similar provisions exist under the Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diets for Children in School) Regulations, 2020, this advisory renews the focus on implementation and enforcement.
The step comes amid growing concern over changing dietary habits among children and adolescents. Food Safety Department inspections at educational institutions revealed widespread availability of processed snacks, sugary beverages, and foods made with refined carbohydrates. These foods are often energy-dense but nutritionally poor, containing excessive salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, while providing limited vitamins, minerals, and fibre.
Nutrition experts have welcomed the advisory. Rebecca Kuriyan Raj, Professor and Head of the Division of Nutrition at St. John's Research Institute, described it as a timely and much-needed public health intervention. "Schools play a critical role in shaping lifelong eating habits because children spend a significant part of their day there," she said. "Easy access to junk food promotes frequent consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods over healthier meals." She stressed that schools should foster supportive, health-promoting food environments.
N. Karthik Nagesh, Programme Director of the Paediatric Centre of Excellence at Aster CMI Hospital, said that restricting junk food near schools creates a healthier environment and sends a strong message to children and parents that nutrition is a priority. He noted that children spend a large part of their day in school, and the food available around educational institutions directly influences their eating habits.
HFSS foods include packaged chips, sugary soft drinks, chocolates, candies, instant noodles with high sodium, deep-fried snacks, burgers, pizzas made with processed ingredients, sweetened breakfast cereals, and bakery products high in sugar and saturated fat. Not all packaged foods fall under this category; classification depends on nutritional composition and limits prescribed under food safety regulations.
Doctors point out that childhood is when lifelong eating habits are established. Frequent consumption of HFSS foods displaces healthier foods from the diet, increasing the risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases later in life. India also faces a dual burden of undernutrition and rising overweight and obesity among school-going children, making such regulatory measures important.
The advisory also aligns with broader national efforts. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been urged to consider warning labels on packaged foods high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat, with the Supreme Court recently asking the regulator to examine the issue. Karnataka's move could serve as a model for other states.
The advisory is a significant step, but its success will depend on consistent enforcement and awareness among schools, parents, and vendors. It also highlights the need for broader public health policies that promote nutritious food choices in every environment where children grow and learn.
