Schools across Mumbai are revamping their menus following stricter enforcement of Maharashtra’s food safety rules, replacing junk food with healthier options and banning aerated drinks amid a citywide health initiative.
School canteens across Mumbai are overhauling their menus after Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration stepped up enforcement of rules aimed at curbing junk food in and around schools. At institutions run by the Archdiocesan Board of Education, familiar items such as vada pav and samosas have been removed and replaced with dishes including idli, dosa, poha, sheera and upma, while aerated drinks have been barred outright.
The move follows a wider crackdown led by FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, who has ordered schools across Maharashtra to comply with the Food Safety and Standards rules on balanced diets for children in school. According to the directive, foods high in fat, sugar and salt are not to be sold, displayed or advertised on campus, and the restrictions also extend to a 50-metre radius around schools. School canteens, hostel kitchens, midday meal suppliers and other food providers are also expected to hold valid licences or registrations.
In Mumbai, schools have begun sending fresh guidance to parents as well as changing what is sold on campus. Poorna Prajna School in Dahisar said it has now banned all deep-fried canteen items, while Sacred Heart School in Santacruz has told families to avoid junk food, packaged juices and fried snacks and to send freshly cooked meals in stainless steel containers. DAV Public School in Thane has issued similar advice, and Sri Ma Vidyalaya, also in Thane, has swapped soft drinks for chaas. Podar Education Network has reissued advice on healthy eating and said it has replaced cakes and sweets at birthday celebrations with fresh fruit.
The rules are not new: they were notified in 2020, but schools are only now being pushed to implement them more consistently. In a sign of the scale of the campaign, the education department and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation held an awareness drive for 900 representatives from government and private schools, along with 50 midday meal suppliers. Parents have largely welcomed the shift, though some say the crackdown should go beyond school gates to include shops and vendors selling junk food nearby.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
