India is preparing new regulations that would prohibit the sale of foods high in fat, sugar and salt within a 50‑metre radius of schools. The proposal, driven by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), seeks to protect children from unhealthy eating habits that contribute to the nation’s growing obesity problem.
Local impact on shops and families
The rule would affect family‑run stores, restaurants and food stalls that currently sell items such as sugary soft drinks, salty chips, greasy samosas, pizzas and burgers near the country’s 1.5 million schools. In Bhubaneswar, a dozen shopkeepers warned that sales could fall by a third or more.
One teenager, 15‑year‑old Priyanshu Palei, said he buys popular snack packs to eat during recess, preferring them over his mother’s packed rice and lentil stew. “I will have these during recess,” he told Reuters.
Government rationale
FSSAI chief executive Rajit Punhani said the “safe food” schools plan is intended to steer children away from unhealthy habits early on. “We have to discourage children from having these. We have to inculcate this habit,” he explained, adding that the regulations would not severely impact businesses because shop owners could continue selling non‑HFSS (high‑fat, sugar, salt) foods.
The authority has already set thresholds for fat, salt and sugar content that would trigger the sales restrictions. Public feedback on the draft is being accepted until October 6, though no fixed implementation date has been announced.
State‑level actions and industry response
In Maharashtra, the state food safety commissioner Tukaram Mundhe announced a stricter approach: no shop within 50 metres of a school may carry HFSS products. Inspectors have identified violations at 133 nearby shops, ordering 51 to cease sales of the prohibited items.
The Confederation of Indian Food Trade and Industry warned that compliance could be difficult, especially in congested markets that serve the general public. The trade group argued that restrictions should apply only inside school premises to avoid loss of livelihood.
Multinational companies such as PepsiCo, Coca‑Cola, Mondelez and Nestlé cited their global policies that limit the sale of certain products in schools, while others did not respond to Reuters inquiries.
Broader context
India’s childhood obesity rates have surged, with 41 million children aged 5‑19 classified as overweight or obese in 2025 – a near‑50 % increase from 2015 – and projections of 56 million by 2040, according to the World Obesity Federation.
Globally, five countries have proposed or enacted similar sales restrictions around schools, and 48 have banned junk food inside schools. Chile’s 2016 law, for example, led to lower excess‑weight rates among children and forced manufacturers to reformulate products.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
