In the regulation published on the 4th September 2020, FSSAI has defined the requirements of Schools and FBOs that they will need to comply with. They have to be compliant of these provisions of the regulations effective from 1st July 2021. The regulations specify the following.
Responsibilities of School Authority
- School Authority selling or catering school meals by itself in school campus shall be registered as FBO with the concerned authority and ensure food is safe and meets the nutrition requirement.
- If school authority enters into contract with an FBO selling or catering school meals, then, it must be ensured that the FBO is duly registered or licensed under the provisions of the Act.
- Also, the Department of School Education should ensure that all FBOs contracted by it for the operation of Mid-day meal scheme are registered or licensed.
- The FBOs must comply to the requirements of sanitary & hygienic practices provided to the food manufacturers in Schedule 4, Food Safety Display Board and Food Safety Supervisor(s) as per the Food Safety Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
- Food products high in saturated fat or trans-fat or added sugar or sodium shall not be permitted or sold within the campus.
- The board containing warning “Do not sell including free sale or market or advertise the food products high in saturated fat or trans-fat or added sugar or sodium within school premises or campus” in English or one Indian language as applicable, at the entrance gate or gates of the school.
- Also, there shall be no advertisement banner or wallpaper of food which is high in saturated fat or trans-fat or added sugar or sodium on school computers.
Promotion of safe food and balanced diet in and around school campus
- Safe food & balanced diets shall be encouraged among children as per guidelines issued by the “Dietary guidelines for Indians – A Manual” issued by NIN and other expert institutions or authorities & schools shall work towards meeting specified benchmarks to convert school campus into ‘Eat Right Campus’ that focus on safe food and balanced diet, local seasonal food and no waste.
- The school meals supplied by FBOs should be identified & selected foods on the basis of guidelines given in these regulations & as directed by the Food Authority.
- Safe and balanced diets must be served to infants or children up to the age of 24 months old at creches or day cares.
Food marketing and advertisement and selling to children in school
- No person shall advertise or market or sell or offer for sale including free sale, or permit sale of, food products high in saturated fat or trans-fat or added sugar or sodium in school campus or to school children in an area within 50 meters from the school gate in any direction.
- When marketing foods in school premises or campus, the FBOs shall support only balanced eating.
Monitoring & surveillance
- Regular inspection of premises ensuring safe, balanced & hygienic food service to students shall be done by the school authority. School Authority can appoint a health and wellness Ambassador or a team who shall act as the nodal person
- Periodic inspection of FBOs covered under these regulations shall be carried out by the State Authority.
- If school authority fails to comply with the provisions under these regulations, without reasonable grounds, the Central or State Food Authority shall take up the matter with concerned department of School education or Affiliation Body, to take appropriate action.
- A sub-committee including representatives from Department of School Education, and public health professionals from field of food & nutrition shall recommend indicative list of food groups & preparations.
Following are the other guidelines specified in the regulations.
- Mandatory meal-times to be implemented to inculcate healthy eating habits in children.
- Safe drinking water to be available to students at free-of-cost.
- The menu shall include a variety of foods cereal – protein combination including micronutrient-rich meals.
- Whole grains, pulses, millets, foods of animal origin like milk, eggs etc., shall be used. Fresh, seasonal and local produce shall be used for preparation.
- Cooking oil or ghee shall be used moderately & use of re-heated fats & oils should be avoided.
- Fortified wheat flour, rice, milk, edible oil & double fortified salt may be used as per Food Safety & Standards (Fortification of Foods), 2018.
- A list of permitted foods & beverages has also been included in the regulations.
The complete notification is available here.
