Maharashtra FDA Orders Schools to Replace Fast Food with Nutritious Canteen Meals
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has directed schools across Maharashtra, including institutions in Mumbai, to replace fast food in their canteens with nutritious alternatives as part of an initiative to promote healthier eating habits among students.
The regulatory directive follows the enforcement of restrictions prohibiting the sale of junk food and items high in added sugar and salt within 50 metres of school premises. In addition to monitoring compliance with these buffer zone restrictions, the FDA has launched food safety and nutrition training sessions in approximately 300 schools across the state.
As part of the training programme, senior FDA officials are providing direct guidance to school nutrition committees. The sessions focus on the age-appropriate dietary requirements of students, practical food sources to meet nutritional needs, and strict hygiene and safety standards that must be maintained while preparing and serving meals on campus.
Several schools have already begun updating their canteen menus by replacing fast food with healthier substitutes. Other institutions have temporarily closed their canteens until new menus and operational arrangements are formally finalised. Schools are required to notify the administration of all changes made to their canteen food offerings.
The FDA has asked schools that have successfully overhauled their menus to share details regarding the adjustments made, the practical challenges encountered during the process, and the specific measures taken to resolve them. The administration plans to use these examples to assist other institutions in adopting effective practices.
Officials are also gathering feedback from schools regarding how students, particularly those accustomed to fast food, are responding to the new menu items. Recognising that modifying children's eating habits can be difficult, the administration has urged school authorities to make nutritious food options more appealing by focusing on flavour, attractive presentation, and creative recipes.
The FDA has called on educational institutions across the state to adopt innovative strategies to encourage healthier student diets while ensuring that all food served on school grounds complies with safety and hygiene norms.
