Junk food still sold near schools, colleges
14 July 2012 1:21 AM GMT
With the arrival of monsoon in the city, the consumption of junk food and carbonated drinks, specially by the school and college goers are causing harmful diseases.
Despite existing guidelines, which had been issued by Foods Safety and Standards Authority of India [FSSAI] in 2011, to all states advising that state governments should consider issuing instructions for withdrawal of aerated beverages and junk foods from canteens of schools and colleges, no one seems to be following them.
In Delhi, street food kiosks abound in the vicinity of schools and colleges. ‘Street food is mostly sold near the educational institutions as the demand is more there,’ said a senior health expert.
The expert also said that junk food like patties and burgers, which is sold openly and in unhygienic conditions, lead to diseases such as typhoid and cholera.
Dr Anirudh Aggarwal, a Delhi-based cardiologist said the conventional Indian snacks are also a big threat as they are prepared by using vegetable fat. The excessive and regular consumption of street food enhances the possibility of coronary heart disease.
‘The states have been told to consider issuing instructions to the deans of all the educational institutions, including medical and agricultural universities, for the withdrawal of junk foods and carbonated drinks from their respective canteens,’ an official of the health ministry said.
‘An awareness should be created among young students about the harmful effects of increased consumption of junk foods. They are especially responsible for causing health hazards during monsoon.’
When Millennium Post visited a few educational institutions in the city, we found out that the students were completely unaware of any such guidelines. ‘Since I don’t like carrying tiffin with me, I eat at least a patty a day. And the shop is not far away from my school, it’s just a stone’s throw away,’ said Kunal, a student of a school in RK Puram.
Despite existing guidelines, which had been issued by Foods Safety and Standards Authority of India [FSSAI] in 2011, to all states advising that state governments should consider issuing instructions for withdrawal of aerated beverages and junk foods from canteens of schools and colleges, no one seems to be following them.
In Delhi, street food kiosks abound in the vicinity of schools and colleges. ‘Street food is mostly sold near the educational institutions as the demand is more there,’ said a senior health expert.
The expert also said that junk food like patties and burgers, which is sold openly and in unhygienic conditions, lead to diseases such as typhoid and cholera.
Dr Anirudh Aggarwal, a Delhi-based cardiologist said the conventional Indian snacks are also a big threat as they are prepared by using vegetable fat. The excessive and regular consumption of street food enhances the possibility of coronary heart disease.
‘The states have been told to consider issuing instructions to the deans of all the educational institutions, including medical and agricultural universities, for the withdrawal of junk foods and carbonated drinks from their respective canteens,’ an official of the health ministry said.
‘An awareness should be created among young students about the harmful effects of increased consumption of junk foods. They are especially responsible for causing health hazards during monsoon.’
When Millennium Post visited a few educational institutions in the city, we found out that the students were completely unaware of any such guidelines. ‘Since I don’t like carrying tiffin with me, I eat at least a patty a day. And the shop is not far away from my school, it’s just a stone’s throw away,’ said Kunal, a student of a school in RK Puram.
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