The controversy over Maggi noodles has also brought into focus the adverse effects of foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS), commonly categorised as “junk food”.
In March this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended that both adults and children should reduce their daily intake of free sugars to less than 10 per cent of their total energy intake.
However, nutritionists said that the average sugar intake of people far exceeds the WHO’s recommendation.
“On an average, people are getting 15 per cent or even more of food energy from sugar,” according to nutritionist K.C. Raghu.
Quoting the WHO recommendations, Mr. Raghu says the guidelines do not refer to sugars in fresh fruits and vegetables and sugars naturally present in milk, because there is no reported evidence of adverse effects of consuming these sugars.
In a report titled “Junk Food Targeted at Children, Regulatory Action Required to Limit Exposure and Availability”, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has called for a ban on the sale of junk food within 50 metres of educational institutions.
Amit Khurana, Programme Manager of Food Safety and Toxins division at CSE, told The Hindu that most common junk foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar should be restricted in schools.
“All schools should have a canteen policy with healthy food options. The menu should include fruit salad, fruits, paneer / vegetable cutlets, khandvi, poha, uthapam, upma, idlis and kathi rolls, low fat milk shakes with seasonal fruits and no added sugar and the like,” he says.
Reporting by Afshan Yasmeen
QUOTE HANGER:
“All schools should have a canteen policy with healthy food options.”
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