Chennai: Environmental Studies (EVS) was introduced into the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) syllabus almost a decade ago to educate students about the importance of protecting the environment.
Despite the boards taking such initiatives, no provision has still been made for nutrition education to be introduced in schools. With this in mind, the New Delhi-based non-government Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), in conference held last week, urged schools to take the issue of nutrition seriously.
“Students need to be made aware of what they eat and the benefits and risks involved in consuming different kinds of food and then make an informed choice.
It is essential that they learn it at a younger age,” said Sunitha Narain, director general, CSE, adding that not only should it be included in the syllabus, but a canteen law should also be created and enforced.
Some schools, especially those under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), have understood the risks involved in junk food consumption and banned the sale of the same. “In a circular to all affiliated schools, the CBSE wrote that consumption of food high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) has been found to be associated with many diseases including type 2 diabetes, hypertension and others and has therefore advised all schools affiliated to it to try to avoid the sale of such foods within and around 100 meters of the school premises,” said Dr Rekha, head of the department of paediatrics at a government hospital in Jammu & Kashmir.
“It is good to implement the law of not selling junk food in schools and 100 yards around schools, as junk food is the reason for obesity. Sensationalizing children about the aftereffects of junk food is important,” said nutritionist Dharini Krishnan.
Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI) is coming up with regulations to check the sale of food in canteens.
“The regulations will essentially be advisory to schools to incentivize them to only allow healthy foods to be sold in canteens. The process of approval will take between three and four months before it finally comes to play,” said CEO, FSSAI, Pawan Agarwal.
