Karnataka bans junk food sale in and around schools and colleges

Karnataka government banned sale, free distribution, advertising, and promotion of high fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) food products within school and college campuses (up to II PUC) and in a 50-metre radius, announced by Health Minister U T Khader.

The ban follows a similar decision by Maharashtra government and aims to prevent lifestyle diseases among young students.

Food safety and drug administration directed educational institutions to enforce the advisory; violators face action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

A Karnataka-wide inspection campaign last month covered 134 schools, colleges, and food business establishments, and officials collected 53 food samples for laboratory analysis.

School managements, including D Shashi Kumar of KAMS, questioned what qualifies as junk food and how the ban will be enforced outside school premises, especially in Bengaluru.