India moves to curb junk food sales near schools

India is moving towards restrictions on the sale of foods high in fat, salt and sugar within 50 metres of schools, as authorities seek to tackle rising childhood obesity.

The proposed rules could affect shops, restaurants and food stalls around the country’s 1.5 million schools, including those selling soft drinks, chips, samosas, pizzas and burgers.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is driving the changes. Its chief executive Rajit Punhani said the aim was to encourage healthier eating habits among children.

“We have to discourage children from having these. We have to inculcate this habit,” he told Reuters.

The authority published thresholds for fat, salt and sugar content in August that would trigger restrictions on sales near and inside schools. Public feedback is open until October 6. There is no fixed timeline for the law, which was first proposed in 2020.

The proposal could add pressure on companies including PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Mondelez and Nestle, which already face proposed rules requiring red warning labels on products high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS).

Shopkeepers near schools are concerned about the possible impact on sales.

In Bhubaneswar, a dozen shop owners told Reuters sales could fall by a third or more if the restrictions are introduced.

Maharashtra has already adopted a stricter approach. State food safety commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said shops within 50 metres of schools cannot stock HFSS products.

“There will be hundreds of such shops near schools. How will one regulate if they are selling to schoolchildren or not? Shops cannot stock these items,” said Mundhe.

State data showed inspectors had found violations at 133 shops within 50 metres of schools and ordered 51 to discontinue their business.

The number of Indian children aged 5-19 considered overweight or obese has increased from 28 million in 2015 to 41 million by 2025, according to World Obesity Federation data. The figure is expected to reach 56 million by 2040.

Products such as Lay’s chips, Cadbury chocolates and Maggi noodles have become increasingly popular in India. In 2023, Domino’s launched its cheapest pizza in the world in India at 49 rupees (50 US cents).

The Confederation of Indian Food Trade and Industry has warned that the proposed rules could cause “loss of business and livelihood”, arguing that restrictions should apply only inside schools.

PepsiCo referred Reuters to its global school-sales policy, while Nestle said it allows only products meeting specific nutrition criteria in primary and secondary schools. Coca-Cola and Mondelez did not respond to Reuters queries.

Around the world, five countries have proposed or implemented restrictions on sales around schools, while 48 have restricted junk food sales inside schools, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina.

Chile introduced warning labels and restrictions on junk food sales and promotion in schools in 2016. A Lancet study this year said 18 months of exposure to the law was associated with a 2.85 per cent lower probability of excess weight among girls and 2.4 per cent among boys.

The Chilean rules also encouraged manufacturers to reformulate products.

“If the law were ineffective and consumers did not change their behaviour, producers would not push back,” said Guillermo Paraje, a professor at Adolfo Ibáñez Business School in Chile.

“They know the law will make them reformulate as much as they can.”

(With inputs from Reuters)