The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on 4th September 2020 has published the Food Safety and Standards (Safe food and balanced diets for children in school) Regulations, 2020 to ensure safe and wholesome food for school children.
Key Highlights from the regulation.
The School Authority selling or catering school meals by itself in the school campus shall get registered as a food business operator from the concerned authority and if the School Authority entering into a contract or transaction with a food business operators (FBOs) selling or catering school meal on school campus shall ensure that such FBOs are duly registered or licensed under the provisions of the Act.
School Authority shall ensure that no person shall sell or offer for sale including free sale, or permit sale, of food products high in saturated fat or trans-fat or added sugar or sodium in school premises or campus and its shall ensure that the FBOs supplying prepared school meals in the school premises is are identified and selected foods which can be served or sold on the basis of the broad guidelines given in the Schedule to these regulations and as per the directions, issued by the Food Authority or the Commissioner of Food Safety of the state.
Further, no person shall advertise or market or sell or offer for sale including free sale, or permit sale of, food products high in saturated fat or trans-fat or added sugar or sodium in the school campus or to school children in an area within fifty meters from the school gate in any direction.
When marketing foods to children in school premises or campus, the FBOs shall only offer premiums and incentives such as toys, trading cards, apparel, club memberships, contests, reduced-price specials, or coupons with foods, meals, which is not high in saturated fat or trans-fat or added sugar or sodium and shall use sponsorship of sporting, school, and other events for children only with food which is not high in saturated fat or trans-fat or added sugar or sodium.
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