Maharashtra is set to extend its push for healthier eating beyond schools, with the state cabinet deciding that government and semi-government offices must serve nutritious food and snacks in their canteens, training programmes, official meetings and events.

The move follows the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration’s recent action against foods high in sugar, salt and fat in and around schools. The new policy aims to reduce the consumption of oily and ultra-processed food while encouraging healthier dietary habits among government employees and visitors.

Healthy Menu For Government Offices

The cabinet decision makes healthy and nutritious food mandatory in canteens of government and semi-government offices and at official programmes.

The proposed menu includes fruits such as bananas, guavas, papayas and apples, along with boiled eggs, boiled sprouts, poha, idli sambhar, hot milk and green tea.

Sprout-based curries and bhakri made from jowar, bajra, ragi and pulses will also form part of the menu.

Local and traditional food will be given priority, while lunch options will include green vegetables, buttermilk, pulses and salads.

A healthy menu has already been introduced at canteens in Mumbai’s Mantralaya, Maharashtra’s administrative headquarters.

Move Linked To Rising Lifestyle Diseases

The proposal, moved by the state public health department, cited the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and their increasing prevalence among younger people.

According to the proposal, around 66 per cent of deaths in India are linked to non-communicable diseases.

It stated that around 24 per cent of people in Maharashtra have hypertension, 15 per cent have diabetes, 25 per cent suffer from obesity and 30 per cent have heart disease.

The government said reducing the availability of unhealthy food in official spaces was intended to promote better eating habits and help address lifestyle-related health risks.

FDA Extends Crackdown To Schools

The cabinet’s decision comes after the state Food and Drug Administration, led by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, intensified action against junk food in and around schools.

The FDA has directed that shops located within a 50-metre radius of schools should not sell foods high in sugar, salt, saturated fats and trans fats.

The restrictions cover products including cakes, energy drinks and fried snacks such as chips, samosas and vada pav.

The directives apply to aided, unaided and private schools, including institutions affiliated with state and national education boards.

Maharashtra has around 108,000 schools and more than 20 million students.

Mandatory Food Safety Registration For Schools

Under the FDA’s directions, school canteens, tuck shops, mid-day meal centres, hostel kitchens and all food suppliers will be required to obtain registration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

The sale, advertising and distribution of high fat, sugar and salt, or HFSS, food products in and around schools will be prohibited.

The FDA has linked the measures to changing lifestyles, aggressive marketing and the influence of social media, which have contributed to greater consumption of junk food among students.

Combined with reduced outdoor activity, these trends have contributed to childhood obesity, poor nutrition, metabolic disorders, anaemia and concentration-related problems, according to the concerns outlined in the state’s food safety drive.

Mundhe-Led FDA Steps Up Food Safety Action

The FDA’s focus on schools followed a wider crackdown on restaurants, clubs and eating establishments over alleged violations of hygiene and sanitation norms.

Under Mundhe, a 2005-batch IAS officer, the FDA has taken action against several prominent clubs and restaurants in Mumbai.

Inspections covered establishments including the Cricket Club of India at Churchgate, MIG Cricket Club in Bandra, R.K. Juhu Gymkhana, Aparna Juhu Gymkhana, Willingdon Sports Club in Tardeo and a restaurant at Goregaon Sports Club.

Action was also taken against well-known establishments such as Parsi Dairy Farm at Marine Lines, K Rustom & Co ice cream at Churchgate, Noor Mohammadi, Shalimar, Jimmy Boy Mahim and Poornima at Fort.

FDA inspections at various establishments found issues including cockroach and fungal infestations, spoiled vegetables, water accumulation and unclean floors and counters. Parsi Dairy Farm subsequently reopened after complying with food safety requirements.

Wider Push For Healthier Food Practices

The latest cabinet decision indicates that Maharashtra’s efforts to promote healthier eating are now being extended to government workplaces after the FDA’s action against unhealthy food around educational institutions.

By replacing oily and ultra-processed food with fruits, traditional dishes, millets, sprouts and other nutritious options, the state intends to encourage healthier food choices among officials and visitors during their daily interactions with government offices and official programmes.

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