Tukaram Mundhe effect? Idli replaces vada pav, chaas for cola in Mumbai school canteens

In Mumbai, schools administered by the Archdiocesan Board of Education (ABE) are mandating healthier food options in their canteens, replacing traditional vada pav and samosa with healthier alternatives like idli, dosa, poha, sheera, and upma. The ban extends to aerated drinks. This shift in menus is a response to a warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the sale of junk food on school premises, as part of the FDA's ongoing food safety crackdown.

The state school education department further amplified these efforts by issuing a circular urging schools across Maharashtra to strictly adhere to the Food Safety and Standards (Safe food and balanced diets for children in school) Regulations, 2020. The regulations demand that schools ensure no High Fat, Sugar and Salt (HFSS) food is sold within a 50-metre radius of their premises, and that they report any non-compliance to the FDA.

In rural areas, schools can approach gram panchayats and sarpanchs for enforcement. FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe recently held an online meeting with Zilla Parishad chief executive officers and the Education Commissioner to discuss implementation and awareness programs for principals, headmasters, and heads of food committees.

In Mumbai, an awareness campaign was conducted for 900 school representatives and 50 midday meal suppliers. The ABE has also stopped serving fried items, opting instead for healthier dishes in their canteens. Schools are not only rewriting canteen menus but also writing to parents about the contents of tiffin boxes. Schools like Poorna Prajna School in Dahisar, Sacred Heart School in Santacruz, DAV Public School in Thane, Sri Ma Vidyalaya in Thane, and Podar Education Network have all implemented these healthier guidelines, including avoiding fried foods and replacing soft drinks with chaas.

Parents have generally welcomed these changes, but some advocate for extending these rules beyond school premises. The FDA's drive has already highlighted the importance of healthy meals, with at least one or two meals a day becoming completely healthy due to school regulations. However, advocates argue that regulations should also extend to retailers and sellers of junk food.