No Chips, Sugary Drinks or Fried Snacks: New Food Rules for Schools in Maharashtra
Mumbai, 29th July 2026: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a statewide compliance order aimed at ensuring that every school student receives safe, nutritious and balanced food.
The order applies to all government, aided, private and residential schools in Maharashtra, including institutions affiliated with the State Board, CBSE, ICSE and other education boards.
Under the new rules, the sale, advertising, marketing and free distribution of foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) are prohibited on school premises and within 50 metres of school entrances. Sugary drinks, chips, fried snacks and products containing excessive salt, sugar, saturated fat or trans fat will not be permitted in these areas.
All school canteens, tuck shops, midday-meal centres, hostel kitchens and food suppliers must hold a valid licence or registration from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. The order also covers food supplied under the PM POSHAN scheme.
Schools have been directed to prioritise fruits, vegetables, pulses, whole grains, milk and locally available nutritious foods in accordance with dietary guidelines issued by the National Institute of Nutrition.
The regulations require strict compliance with standards covering safe drinking water, cleanliness, food storage, temperature control, pest control and waste management. Every school must appoint a Food Safety Supervisor and a Health and Wellness Ambassador or nodal officer. A Food Safety Display Board must also be installed on the premises.
Food Safety Officers will inspect every school at least twice a year and collect at least one food sample annually. Schools, canteens, suppliers and vendors found violating the regulations could face improvement notices, fines, suspension or cancellation of licences, prosecution and other punitive action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Municipal corporations, municipal councils, district councils and gram panchayats have been asked to assist authorities in stopping the illegal sale of HFSS products within the designated 50-metre zone.
Education boards have also been directed to make compliance with the school food regulations a condition for granting or renewing affiliation. The School Education Department will oversee implementation in government and aided schools and submit an annual compliance report by March 31.
Each school is expected to formulate a School Nutrition Policy, conduct at least four food and nutrition awareness sessions annually and develop its canteen as a model centre for healthy eating. The wider objective is to turn every institution into an “Eat Right School”.
Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the order was not intended to remain limited to compliance on paper.
“Every child has a fundamental right to safe, wholesome and balanced food. Ensuring that every morsel served to children is safe is not only the administration’s responsibility but also the collective moral responsibility of society,” he said.
The order was issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diets for Children in School) Regulations, 2020. It seeks to address growing concerns over childhood obesity, anaemia, micronutrient deficiencies, reduced concentration and the long-term risk of lifestyle-related diseases.
As part of the statewide campaign, authorities have so far conducted 42 awareness workshops, training and sensitising 49,919 teachers from 3,567 schools about food safety and balanced diets.
The initiative carries the message: “Safe Food, Healthy Childhood, Capable Maharashtra,” with the ultimate goal of making every school a safe-food school and every student a healthy child.
