India proposes regulations to restrict junk food sales near schools

India: India is advancing federal regulations to restrict the sale and promotion of high-fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) foods within 50 meters of schools nationwide. The initiative, led by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, seeks to curb rising childhood obesity by steering young consumers toward healthier options early. It builds on a broader nationwide food safety crackdown that includes thresholds for HFSS content and public feedback processes. Nestle: Nestle is a major multinational food company with iconic Indian brands such as Maggi noodles. It is navigating the proposed HFSS sales limits near schools alongside calls for recipe reformulation. The company stated it follows global policies restricting sales in primary and secondary schools to products meeting specific nutrition criteria. PepsiCo: PepsiCo is a global food and beverage company operating major snack and drink brands in India. It is directly affected by the proposed school-zone sales restrictions and related warning label requirements for HFSS products. The company has pointed to its global policy that limits certain products in school settings. Mondelez: Mondelez International is a global confectionery and snack company whose brands, including Cadbury, are popular in India. It is among the multinationals potentially impacted by restrictions on HFSS products near schools and mandatory warning labels. The company did not respond to Reuters inquiries about the regulations. Coca-Cola: Coca-Cola is a multinational beverage company with significant operations and product lines in India. It faces potential new hurdles from the HFSS sales curbs near schools and proposed red warning labels on qualifying products. The company did not respond to queries on the specific proposal. Rajit Punhani: Rajit Punhani is the chief executive of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. He is spearheading the "safe food" schools initiative to discourage unhealthy eating habits among children and encourage companies to reformulate recipes. Punhani has emphasized that the rules aim to nudge industry changes without major business disruption while broader enforcement efforts continue. Regulation: India's food regulator is also advancing front-of-pack warning labels for HFSS products in a single implementation phase, aligning with stricter international approaches. Enforcement: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is expanding scrutiny to e-commerce platforms, quick-commerce, and claims on packaged foods as part of the wider food safety push. Public Health: The schools proposal aims to break early habits of junk food consumption and encourage reformulation by manufacturers, drawing from models in countries like Chile.