Maneka Gandhi pushes for ban on junk food in schools

New Delhi, Aug 27: If reports are to be believed, then very soon schools in Delhi could be free from junk food. Union minister Maneka Gandhi is seeking a ban on junk food in Delhi schools.

Maneka, who holds the portfolio for women and child development has written to fellow colleague HRD minister Smriti Irani seeking a complete ban on junk food in school canteens.

This comes after a government panel recommendation on junk food that is high in fat, sugar and salt.

Maneka in her letter has pointed out about over-nutritution and obesity as one of the mai public health problems in school going children aged between 6 to 18 years.

"The major contributor of non-healthy food choices in the younger generation is the easy availibility of junk food, which essentially is calorie dense high fat fast food," she writes.

Maneka has urged Irani to ban fast food in schools and campuses and sale of the same upto 200 metres of the school to be disallowed as well.

OneIndia News