Question

food safety and standard authority of india (fssai) has taken the bold steps of banning sale of junk food to students . all food that are high in saturated fats or trans fat with added sugar with sodium will be off the menu a give agrument​

Answer 1

Answer:

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) notified some much-awaited and crucial regulations to curb consumption of foods high in fat, sugar, salt and trans fat over the last few months. Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had been pushing for the same for many years now.

These regulations are pivotal for the food environment of the country and can play a role in preventing non-communicable diseases.

In September 2020, the Food Safety and Standards (Safe food and balanced diets for children in school) Regulations were notified. These restrict the availability of foods high in saturated fat, trans fat, added sugar or sodium in or within a fifty-metre of schools. For the first time, there will be a law to regulate availability of junk foods in and around schools.

School canteens and nearby shops are a common source of junk food for children. Now, 75-80 per cent of the school canteen menu would have to comprise of fresh foods that are not high in salt, sugar, fat such as cereal, millets and cooked snacks with a cereal or pulse base, fresh fruits and vegetables and milk and milk products.

The remaining 20-25 per cent are foods that should be eaten occasionally, in small portion sizes and reduced frequency. These include foods such as ice creams, biscuits, packaged beverages such as soups, juices and white bread.

The Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 was also notified in December 2020. These developments are vital for packaged food labelling with provision for mandatory declaration of salt which was not there in the previous law.