# Maharashtra Bans Junk Food Sales Across 1.08 Lakh Schools and 50 Meter Radius Around Campus

> Maharashtra's Food and Drugs Administration has imposed a strict ban on the sale and advertisement of junk food, including vada pav and samosa, within and around a 50-meter radius of 1.08 lakh schools.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Health · **Published:** 2026-07-31 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/health/maharashtra-ke-1-08-lakha-skulon-men-jnka-phuda-para-roka-50-mitara-dayare-men-vara-pava-aura-samosa-bechane-para-pabndi-12452 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Maharashtra, Tukaram Mundhe, Junk Food Ban, School Canteen, FDA Order, Health News

School children across Maharashtra will no longer have access to popular fried snacks and sugary treats on campus or in their immediate neighborhood. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe issued an executive order on Wednesday prohibiting the sale and advertisement of junk food within school premises as well as across a 50-meter radius around 1.08 lakh schools in the state. The decision aims to address deteriorating health trends among young students, though it has simultaneously raised concerns among parents whose children have grown accustomed to fast food options.

## Banned Items and Rationale for Health Enforcement
Under the newly enforced directive, school canteens and nearby commercial outlets are strictly forbidden from selling items high in fat, sugar, and salt. The banned category includes widely consumed local snacks such as vada pav and samosa, alongside processed chips, cold drinks, chocolates, ice cream, and similar packaged goods. Health authorities initiated this measure in response to a worrying rise in childhood obesity, juvenile diabetes, high blood pressure, and other lifestyle-related medical conditions among school-going kids. The primary objective is to safeguard children's long-term health and steer them toward nutritious dietary choices during their formative years.

## Background of FSSAI Regulations and Previous Gaps
The regulatory framework governing nutritional standards in educational institutions is not entirely new. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had previously formulated detailed guidelines following extensive consultations with health experts and educators. These rules officially took effect on September 4, 2020. However, their practical implementation remained weak and inconsistent across schools for several years. The latest notification from the state FDA marks a renewed attempt to execute these dormant regulations with strict monitoring and accountability.

## Challenges in Ground Implementation and School Canteen Practices
Despite the comprehensive nature of the order, significant practical questions remain regarding ground-level execution. The order does not yet specify the exact oversight mechanism for identifying and penalizing vendors operating informal pushcarts, roadside stalls, and small shops right outside the 50-meter boundary. Medical and dietary experts point out that the easy availability of low-cost junk food near school gates naturally draws children toward packaged chips and soft drinks instead of balanced meals. Furthermore, experts observe that official school events and celebrations frequently distribute samosas, vada pav, and wafers, whereas healthier alternatives like poha, upma, idli, or traditional roti-sabzi are seldom offered.

## Multi-Agency Cooperation and Role of Parents
Enforcing such bans poses challenges similar to existing legal prohibitions against selling tobacco and alcohol products near educational institutions, which have seen mixed results over time. To ensure this junk food restriction yields tangible results, coordinated effort is required across multiple governance bodies, including the Education Department, Health Department, Food and Drug Administration, civic municipal authorities, local police, and individual school administrations. Crucially, experts emphasize that administrative bans alone cannot succeed without active parental participation. If parents continue to pack processed junk food in lunch boxes or provide money for children to purchase snacks elsewhere, the impact of the ban will be limited. Creating lasting healthy eating habits ultimately requires a shared commitment between families, schools, and the wider community.

## What this means for you
- **Across India:** This crackdown on junk food around schools sets a potential framework for other states to prioritize student health and childhood nutrition.
- **In Maharashtra:** Students across 1.08 lakh schools will no longer be able to buy unhealthy snacks like vada pav, samosa, and soft drinks on campus or within a 50-meter radius.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Which specific food items are banned under the new order?
The restriction covers vada pav, samosa, chips, cold drinks, chocolates, ice cream, and all processed foods high in fat, sugar, or salt.

### 2. What geographic radius does the junk food ban cover?
The ban applies inside 1.08 lakh schools in Maharashtra and extends across a 50-meter radius around campus premises.

### 3. Why did FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe issue this directive?
The order was introduced to curb rising rates of childhood obesity, juvenile diabetes, high blood pressure, and other lifestyle health issues.

### 4. When were the original FSSAI school food guidelines introduced?
The guidelines by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) were officially implemented on September 4, 2020.

### 5. Which bodies must collaborate to ensure effective ground implementation?
Successful enforcement requires joint action from the Education Department, Health Department, FDA, civic bodies, police, school administrators, and parents.

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