India proposes 50-meter junk food ban near schools to curb childhood obesity

Key facts

• India is proposing to ban the sale and promotion of high-fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) foods within 50 meters of schools.
• The move aims to curb rising childhood obesity rates in the country.
• The proposed rules would affect approximately 1.5 million schools nationwide.
• Multinational corporations like PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Mondelez, and Nestle could be impacted.
• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has set thresholds for HFSS content.
• Shopkeepers in Bhubaneswar fear sales could drop by a third or more if restrictions are enacted.

India is moving towards implementing new regulations that would restrict the sale and promotion of high-fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) foods within a 50-meter radius of schools. This initiative, proposed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), aims to combat the growing problem of childhood obesity across the nation.

The proposed rules would cover approximately 1.5 million schools and target a wide range of products, including sugary drinks, salty snacks, and greasy fast foods sold by local stores, restaurants, and food stalls near educational institutions. This measure could present a significant challenge for multinational food and beverage companies such as PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Mondelez, and Nestle, which already face potential red-warning labels on HFSS products.

FSSAI has established specific thresholds for fat, salt, and sugar content that would trigger these restrictions. The authority is currently accepting public feedback on the proposal, which was first introduced in 2020. While the timeline for implementation is not fixed, the move signifies a stricter approach to food safety and public health. Some retailers, like those in Bhubaneswar, have expressed concerns that the restrictions could lead to a substantial drop in sales, potentially by as much as a third. However, FSSAI chief executive Rajit Punhani stated that the aim is to encourage healthier eating habits from a young age and that businesses can adapt by selling non-HFSS foods or reformulating their products.