Punjab child rights commission bans sale of unhealthy food in schools

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has banned sale of unhealthy food in schools and constituted monitoring committees to enforce it across the state.

Sukesh Kalia, chairman of the commission, expressed concern over the deterioration in the health of school-going children, especially due to consumption of unhealthy and unhygenically prepared foods.

Consumption of unhealthy foods is known to lead to hypertension, diabetes, obesity and mental stress in children. These diseases and childhood obesity have been reportedly found to affect the cognitive and physical development of children.

Kalia said the commission has taken cognizance of this matter under Sections 13(1) (f) and (k) of the CPCR Act, 2005.

He said the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India has also given guidelines to provide healthy, hygienic and nutritive food to school children as per the laid down norms. He said it is required that undertaking be sought from all private schools declaring that junk food/food high in fat, salt, sugar(HFSS) is not being served to children.

Kalia said the commission has constituted state-level committees to keep a close watch on schools in this matter.