The food sold around schools could soon face closer scrutiny as India’s food regulator moves to strengthen rules on foods high in fat, sugar and salt.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is working on an amendment that would restrict the sale of high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt, or HFSS, foods on school campuses and within a 50-metre radius of schools.
FSSAI CEO Rajit Punhani said the regulator’s focus is to create healthier food environments for children under its Eat Right India initiative. The proposal is part of a wider effort to encourage healthier eating habits from an early age.
But there is an important detail here. The 50-metre restriction itself is not entirely new.
What Is Fssai Proposing For Schools?
FSSAI has opened a draft amendment to its Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diets for Children in School) Regulations, 2020.
The draft proposes specific definitions for foods considered high in added fat, added sugar or sodium. These thresholds are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Nutrition.
Under the proposed definitions, food would be considered high in added fat if it contains more than 4.2 grams per 100 grams in solid foods or more than 1.5 grams per 100 ml in liquids.
For added sugar, the proposed limits are more than 3 grams per 100 grams for solid foods and more than 2 grams per 100 ml for liquids.
For salt, the proposed threshold is more than 0.625 grams per 100 grams in solid foods or more than 0.175 grams per 100 ml in liquids.
The draft is currently open for public comments, with October 9, 2026 listed as the last date for submissions. This means the proposal is not yet a final rule.
Is The 50-Metre Junk Food Rule New?
Not exactly.
FSSAI’s existing school-food regulations already restrict the sale of foods high in saturated fat, trans fat, added sugar or sodium to schoolchildren in school canteens, messes and hostel kitchens, as well as within 50 metres of the school gate. The regulations also restrict advertising and marketing of such foods around schools.
The latest move is significant because FSSAI is now proposing clearer definitions for what qualifies as high in added fat, sugar or salt.
That could make enforcement easier.
Why Is Fssai Focusing On Food Around Schools?
Children are surrounded by food choices that are often very different from what they eat at home.
A school gate can have everything from packaged snacks and sugary drinks to fried foods and other quick-service options. Even when a school itself follows healthier food policies, students can simply walk outside the gate during breaks or after classes.
FSSAI’s approach is therefore aimed at the wider food environment, not just school canteens.
The regulator has also been pushing its Eat Right Schools initiative, which focuses on healthier food choices and food safety among students.
The concern is particularly relevant as India deals with rising consumption of processed foods and increasing levels of overweight and obesity.
What Foods Could Be Affected?
The exact impact will depend on the final rules and how individual products are classified.
Foods containing high levels of added fat, added sugar or salt could fall under the proposed definition. This could include several packaged snacks, sweetened beverages and other processed foods commonly sold near schools.
However, it would be wrong to label every snack or every traditional Indian food as “junk food” simply because it contains sugar, fat or salt.
The proposed regulation uses specific nutritional thresholds. The final classification will depend on the composition of individual products.
What Will Happen To Shops Outside Schools?
This is one of the biggest practical questions.
If the proposed framework is implemented, food sellers operating within the 50-metre zone would have to comply with restrictions on the sale of foods covered by the rules.
That could affect small shops, kiosks, canteens and other food businesses located close to school campuses.
The challenge will be enforcement.
A 50-metre boundary may look simple on paper, but thousands of schools have very different surroundings. Some are located inside residential areas, while others sit beside busy markets or commercial streets.
The effectiveness of the rule will therefore depend on how clearly the restrictions are communicated and how consistently state and local authorities enforce them.
Why This Matters For Children
The basic idea behind the policy is fairly simple: make unhealthy food harder to access in places where children spend a large part of their day.
FSSAI’s existing school regulations were created with the goal of promoting safe and balanced diets among students. The regulator has also encouraged schools to create healthier food environments rather than relying entirely on individual children to make better choices.
This is important because children do not make food choices in isolation.
Price, availability, advertising, convenience and what their friends are eating can all influence what ends up in their lunch bag or shopping basket.
What Happens Next?
The 2026 amendment is still a draft.
FSSAI has invited comments from stakeholders before the October 9 deadline. The final provisions could therefore change before they are notified.
If the rules are finalised, the next major question will be implementation.
India already has regulations restricting HFSS food sales and advertising around schools. The new definitions could give authorities a more precise basis for deciding which products fall under the restrictions.
For parents, schools and students, the larger message is straightforward: what is available around a school can influence what children eat.
The regulator is now trying to change that food environment, one school gate at a time.
FAQs
What is the FSSAI 50-metre rule for schools?
FSSAI regulations restrict the sale of certain foods high in fat, sugar or sodium to schoolchildren on school premises and within 50 metres of the school gate. The 2026 draft proposes clearer nutritional definitions.
What is HFSS food?
HFSS stands for high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt food. FSSAI’s proposed 2026 amendment sets specific nutritional thresholds for foods high in added fat, added sugar and salt.
Is the FSSAI 50-metre rule already in force?
FSSAI introduced school-food regulations containing a 50-metre restriction earlier. The current 2026 proposal seeks to add clearer definitions and thresholds for foods high in added fat, sugar and salt.
When will the new FSSAI rules apply?
The 2026 provisions are currently in draft form. FSSAI has invited public comments until October 9, 2026, so the final rules and their implementation timeline have not yet been announced.
Why is FSSAI restricting HFSS foods near schools?
FSSAI says the initiative aims to create healthier food environments for children and encourage better eating habits. The policy forms part of its broader Eat Right India and Eat Right Schools initiatives.
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