School Food May Face Tighter Checks As FSSAI Proposes HFSS Limits
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
What children eat at school could soon face tighter scrutiny as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed specific limits for foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS). The proposed standards set separate thresholds for solid and liquid foods based on their added fat, added sugar and salt content.
Proposed limits for solid foods
For solid foods, the proposed limits would apply to every 100 grams of food:
Nutrient | Proposed high limit |
Added fat | More than 4.2 g |
Added sugar | More than 3 g |
Salt | More than 0.625 g |
Under the proposal, a solid food exceeding any of these limits would be classified as high in the respective nutrient.
Separate limits for liquid foods
FSSAI has proposed different thresholds for drinks and other liquid foods, calculated per 100 ml:
Nutrient | Proposed high limit |
Added fat | More than 1.5 g |
Added sugar | More than 2 g |
Salt | More than 0.175 g |
This would bring beverages and other liquid food items under the same proposed framework for assessing their added fat, sugar and salt levels.
FSSAI invites objections and suggestions
The proposed limits are not final yet. FSSAI has invited stakeholders to submit their objections and suggestions within 60 days.
The feedback will be considered before the standards are finalised. If implemented, the move could have implications for foods served or sold in and around schools, while putting greater focus on healthier food choices for children.
The proposal also comes amid wider concerns around childhood obesity and unhealthy eating habits, making school food an increasingly important part of the public health debate.
