Last Updated:July 30, 2026, 10:32 IST

Chocolates, chips and soft drinks are being shown the exit from Maharashtra schools. The state’s food safety watchdog says the ban takes effect immediately

Maharashtra News: Under the order, items such as vada pav, samosas, deep-fried snacks, chips, cold drinks, sugary beverages, chocolates and ice cream will be off limits within schools and their surrounding 50-metre zone.

Mumbai News: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered all schools across the state to immediately stop the sale of chocolates, chips, soft drinks and other unhealthy food items like samosas and vada pav on their premises, warning that institutions failing to comply could face action, including the loss of affiliation.

The directive, issued by FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, applies to all government, aided and private schools, including pre-primary, primary, secondary, residential schools and hostels affiliated with the State Board, CBSE, ICSE and other education boards.

The order also prohibits the sale, display and advertisement of foods high in saturated fat, trans-fat, added sugar or sodium (HFSS) within school campuses and within a 50-metre radius of school premises.

Ban Enforced Over Widespread Non-Compliance

The crackdown follows widespread violations of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) Safe Food and Balanced Diets for Children in School Regulations, 2020, which came into force in July 2021.

Invoking Section 30(1) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Tukaram Mundhe directed schools to strictly enforce nutrition standards by replacing unhealthy food with healthier alternatives, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses and dairy products, as reported by The Indian Express.

Addressing a press conference, Tukaram Mundhe said the FDA had published a list of prohibited food items on its website. “The whole list is available on our website. But just to give an example, cold drinks, chocolates and caffeinated drinks should not be available in schools or within 50 metres of school premises,” he said.

Under the order, items such as vada pav, samosas, deep-fried snacks, chips, cold drinks, sugary beverages, chocolates and ice cream will be off limits within schools and their surrounding 50-metre zone.

When asked whether Chinese food prepared with ajinomoto could be sold in or around schools, Tukaram Mundhe replied, “No,” adding that the objective of the order was to promote healthier eating habits among students.

FDA Widens Food Safety Crackdown

The order comes as the Maharashtra FDA intensifies enforcement against food safety violations across the state. In recent weeks, the regulator has suspended the food licences of five prominent Mumbai clubs – Cricket Club of India (CCI), MIG Club, RK Juhu Gymkhana, Aparna Juhu Gymkhana and Willingdon Club – after inspections uncovered serious hygiene and structural deficiencies in their kitchens.

Inspectors reported issues including pest infestation, unhygienic food storage, deteriorating walls and ceilings, inadequate food handler hygiene, and poor sanitation practices. At CCI, officials found live cockroaches, mouldy vegetables, expired food items and utensils being washed and handled directly on the floor. The FDA also said the club’s caterer, Nebula Catering Services, was operating without a valid FSSAI licence.

Similar shortcomings were found at the other clubs, including inadequate hygiene practices, rusty cooking equipment, poor temperature monitoring systems and outdated food and water testing records. The FDA has also recently suspended the licences of Parsi Dairy Farm and K Rustom & Co over hygiene concerns.

An FDA official said the action reflects the regulator’s expanded enforcement capacity following the recruitment of more than 40 additional Food Safety Officers earlier this year. “There are a lot of inputs coming in from complainants as well, and all of the establishments can make an appeal after rectifying all the issues,” the official said.

Schools Must Meet Strict Nutrition Standards

The directive applies to every food business operator (FBO), school canteen, tuck shop, hostel kitchen and mid-day meal provider operating within or near school campuses.

Schools have also been instructed to ensure that every meal served complies with dietary guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), providing adequate macronutrients, micronutrients and hydration.

According to the FDA, inspections have found that many school canteens, tuck shops and mid-day meal kitchens across Maharashtra continue to operate without mandatory registration, while HFSS products remain widely available despite the regulations being in force for several years.

The order describes the crackdown as part of the state’s constitutional responsibility under Articles 21, 39(f) and 47, which relate to the right to health, child welfare and improved public nutrition.

Schools Asked To Appoint Nodal Officers

Under the new directive, every school must appoint and train a designated nodal officer responsible for implementing food safety measures.

Schools must also display warning boards at their entrances, prominently exhibit FBO licences, comply with hygiene standards under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration) Regulations, 2011, and ensure their digital infrastructure does not carry advertisements promoting HFSS products.

The Department of School Education has been instructed to ensure that food business operators supplying meals under the PM POSHAN and Shalaposhan Aahar Yojana schemes are properly licensed. Food safety compliance will also become part of routine school inspections and accreditation.

Affiliation At Risk For Repeat Violations

Education boards, including the State Board, CBSE and ICSE, have been directed to make compliance with the FDA’s nutrition standards a mandatory condition for school affiliation and renewal.

Schools repeatedly violating the rules may receive show-cause notices and could ultimately lose their affiliation.

Asked whether schools would be given time to implement the new measures, Tukaram Mundhe said the regulations had already been in effect since 2021. “They had a lot of time in hand. It takes effect immediately,” he said, adding that the rules apply equally to government, aided and private schools in both urban and rural areas.

Twice-Yearly Inspections And Tough Penalties

The order also places new responsibilities on Food Safety Officers (FSOs), who must inspect every school at least twice each year to verify licensing, hygiene standards, warning boards, nodal officer appointments and compliance with the 50-metre exclusion zone.

FSOs have also been instructed to collect food samples at least once annually and submit inspection reports within seven days.

Assistant Commissioners (Food) and Designated Officers will supervise enforcement, issue improvement notices where required, sanction prosecutions and maintain district-level compliance registers, with annual reports to be submitted by March 31 each year.

The FDA noted that violations of food safety laws can attract severe penalties, including life imprisonment under Section 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, depending on the extent of harm caused.

Calling the initiative both a challenge and an opportunity, Tukaram Mundhe said, “It’s a big work to do but also a big opportunity.”

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