Why Keralam is seeking FSSAI clarity onhigh fat, sugar and salt foods
The state government is pushing for clear national guidelines to regulate junk food sales near schools and promote healthier eating habits among children.
Ebenezer News Explainer DeskExplainers are written from our published summary and its cited sources, then checked against them.20 Oct 2026, 06:11 pmUpdated 1h ago4 min readIndiaIndia
Why Keralam is seeking FSSAI clarity on high fat, sugar and salt foods
The Keralam government is seeking formal clarity from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding the definition of high fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) foods. This move aims to establish a legal framework to regulate the sale of unhealthy snacks near schools and protect children's health.
Simple details
The Eat Right School programme is active in 169 schools.
The SNF@School initiative has been implemented in 2,500 schools.
456 institutions have received Eat Right Campus certification.
The FSSAI published a draft regulation on August 7, 2026.
Officials are seeking to define upper limits for fat, sugar, and salt.
Seeking official regulatory clarity
Health Minister K. Muraleedharan announced that the state government intends to approach the FSSAI to define HFSS foods precisely.
Currently, there isn't a precise scientific definition for junk food. This makes it difficult for authorities to identify which specific food items should be included in this category.
Without clear criteria, the state faces significant challenges in drafting and enforcing rules to restrict these products.
The government believes that establishing official upper limits for fat, sugar, and salt is essential to creating a legal standing for future bans or restrictions near schools.
Why this matters for children
This initiative is focused on improving the nutritional environment for students.
By regulating what is sold near educational institutions, the state hopes to curb unhealthy eating habits that contribute to poor health outcomes among children.
School-going children who are exposed to junk food advertising.
Students who rely on school canteens for their daily nutrition.
Parents who are concerned about the quality of food near campuses.
Health authorities aiming to implement consistent national safety standards.
How we got here
In August 2026, the FSSAI released a draft regulation attempting to set specific thresholds for nutrients in food.
This draft proposed that solid foods exceeding 4.2 g of fat, 3 g of sugar, or 0.625 g of salt per 100 g should be classified as high-level.
For liquids, the draft proposed thresholds of 1.5 g of fat, 2 g of sugar, and 0.175 g of salt per 100 ml.
However, these remain draft proposals. The state government notes that these must be finalized into statutory rules before they can be effectively enforced.
Reality check
It is important to note that until the FSSAI finalizes these guidelines, the state lacks the legal authority to enforce specific bans.
Without a finalized national rule, the process of identifying and removing items from canteens remains complicated and legally uncertain.
The current efforts rely on existing programs like Eat Right School and Eat Right Campus.
While these initiatives promote hygiene and safety, they don't currently provide the power to ban the sale of specific products that do not meet future HFSS criteria.
What happens next
Keralam officials plan to write to the FSSAI to request the urgent finalization of these criteria.
Once the regulations are officially adopted, the state may be able to move forward with stricter enforcement.
FSSAI reviews the state's request for finalized HFSS criteria.
Draft regulations may be converted into binding statutory rules.
State authorities could begin identifying and restricting specific food items near schools.
Existing programs like Eat Right School may be expanded further.
Who should buy and who should skip
Parents should buy items that meet the Eat Right School safety standards.
Students should choose nutritious food provided in school and hostel canteens.
Consumers should skip items that fall into the high fat, sugar, and salt category.
Institutions should skip serving food that violates current safety standards.
Verdict
The push for clarity is a necessary step toward regulating the food environment in schools.
While parents and students wait for the FSSAI to finalize these rules, the current focus on hygiene and the Eat Right School programme remains the primary defense against unhealthy eating habits.
It's a work in progress that requires national coordination to be truly effective.
