Maharashtra FDA Bans Junk Food in and Around Schools, Targets Rising Childhood Obesity
In a major public health initiative, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has imposed a statewide ban on the sale, distribution, advertisement and free distribution of junk food within school premises and a 50-metre radius around all schools. The order aims to reduce children’s exposure to foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) and encourage healthier eating habits among students.
The ban covers a wide range of popular food items commonly sold outside schools, including vada pav, samosas, chips, chocolates, soft drinks, ice creams, packaged snacks and sugary beverages. FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the decision is intended to curb the growing incidence of childhood obesity and lifestyle-related diseases by limiting easy access to unhealthy foods during school hours.
The directive places responsibility not only on street vendors and shopkeepers but also on school principals and managements. Educational institutions have been instructed to ensure compliance with the new rules, and authorities have warned that action may be taken against schools that fail to enforce the ban or permit the sale of prohibited items within the restricted zone.
The FDA has also announced that inspections and audits will be conducted across government and private schools to monitor implementation. Officials said the campaign forms part of the state’s broader “Safe Food, Healthy Maharashtra” initiative, which seeks to strengthen food safety standards and promote nutritious diets among children.
Health experts have welcomed the move, noting that frequent consumption of foods high in salt, sugar and unhealthy fats is linked to obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other non-communicable diseases. The decision also aligns with recent recommendations by an ICMR-led policy brief advocating restrictions on junk food in and around educational institutions to improve children’s long-term health outcomes.
The Maharashtra government’s latest order is among the most comprehensive state-level measures in India aimed at creating healthier school environments. Its success, however, will depend on consistent enforcement, cooperation from school authorities and compliance by vendors operating near educational institutions.
