Loading…
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the sale, free distribution and advertising of junk food in and around schools.
The ban covers foods High in Fat, Sugar and Salt (HFSS) within school premises and a 50-metre radius.
It applies to all government, aided and private schools across boards, covering about 1.08 lakh schools and 2 crore students.
The order was issued on 28 July 2026 by FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe.
HFSS stands for foods 'High in Fat, Sugar and Salt' — items like packaged chips, sugary and carbonated drinks, chocolates, confectionery and ultra-processed snacks. They provide excess calories with little nutrition and are linked to childhood obesity and lifestyle diseases.
Simple Analogy: HFSS foods are 'empty-calorie' foods — they fill you up and taste good, but give the body little of what it actually needs.
General Awareness > Health & Governance
GS Paper II > Health & Social Issues
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the national food-safety regulator under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006