UGC asks to promote healthy food options in canteens of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
Good health is a fundamental privilege for humanity. lndia is facing a rapid increase in
diseases, with 1 in 4 people being either obese or diabetic/pre-diabetic, as per the ICMR report
2020-2023.
As you are aware, National Advocacy in Public lnterest (NAP|) is a national think tank on
nutrition-consisting of independent experts in epidemiology, human nutrition, community
nutrition and paediatrics, medical education, administration, social work, and
management. Concerned over the rising obesity, diabetes and other Non-communicable
diseases (NCDs), to build a case for accelerated implementation of the National multi-sectoral
Plan of Action (NMAP) for Prevention and Control of common NCDs (2017-2022), NAP| has
requested to prohibit sales of unhealthy foods in educational institutions and promote healthy
food options in canteens.
As you are aware, the UGC has already notified advisories on similar subjects vide its letters
dated 1Oth November 2016 and 2lstAugust 2018. ln continuation of the above, the Higher
Education lnstitutions (HEls) are once again requested to implement the prohibition of sales
of unhealthy foods in educational institutions and promote healthy food options in canteens to
curb the ongoing epidemic of NCDs effectively by reducing the consumption of unhealthy ultraprocessed of HFSS foods.
