India is moving towards tighter restrictions on the sale and marketing of foods high in fat, sugar and salt around schools, as authorities step up efforts to improve children's food environment and address growing concerns over childhood obesity and lifestyle-related diseases.
Under the proposed regulatory framework, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is looking at restricting the sale of High Fat, Sugar and Salt (HFSS) foods within a 50-metre radius of school premises. The proposal is also aimed at limiting the marketing and advertising of such products to schoolchildren.
HFSS foods include a wide range of processed and packaged products that are high in added sugar, salt or unhealthy fats. Products commonly associated with the category include sugary soft drinks, chips, packaged snacks and other highly processed foods. Depending on the final regulatory definitions and thresholds, the restrictions could also affect certain fast-food products sold near schools.
FSSAI CEO Rajit Punhani said in September that the regulator has a draft regulation aimed at curbing the sale of HFSS food on school campuses and within a 50-metre radius. The proposal is part of a wider effort to encourage healthier eating habits among children from an early age.
The proposed move comes against the backdrop of increasing concern about unhealthy diets and obesity among children and young people. Authorities are seeking to create an environment in which children have easier access to healthier food options and less exposure to heavily marketed products containing high levels of fat, sugar and salt.
However, the proposed restrictions could have a direct impact on small businesses operating around schools. Family-run shops, restaurants, food stalls and street vendors located close to school gates could be among those affected if the central proposal is implemented in its proposed form. Reuters reported that the rule could potentially affect businesses around India's roughly 1.5 million schools.
For many small vendors, school areas provide a regular customer base, particularly during opening and closing hours. Businesses selling packaged snacks, cold drinks and fast food could therefore face pressure to change their product mix if the proposed restrictions come into force.
Industry representatives have also raised questions about how a 50-metre restriction would work in practice. Issues such as identifying the exact boundary around every school, determining which products fall within the HFSS category and ensuring uniform enforcement could create compliance challenges for small businesses.
The proposed central rules are not the first effort in India to restrict unhealthy food around schools. FSSAI's existing Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diets for Children in Schools) Regulations, 2020, already contain provisions restricting the sale, marketing and advertising of foods high in saturated fat, trans-fat, added sugar or sodium within 50 metres of school gates.
Implementation of those provisions, however, has varied across states. In August 2026, the Rajasthan High Court took suo motu cognisance of the issue and directed authorities to ensure enforcement of the 50-metre restriction around schools in the state. The court also directed inspections and other measures related to healthier school food environments.
Some states have already taken their own measures. Maharashtra, for example, introduced restrictions in July on the sale, free distribution and advertising of HFSS foods within school premises and a 50-metre radius.
The proposed national approach could therefore bring greater consistency to rules governing food sales around schools. At the same time, its impact on local traders will depend heavily on the final definitions, enforcement mechanism and any transition period provided to businesses.
For students and parents, the proposal could mean fewer opportunities to purchase highly processed snacks and sugary drinks immediately outside school premises. For shopkeepers and street vendors, however, it could require changes to the products they sell and potentially affect revenue from school-area customers.
The government has not yet implemented the proposed central restrictions in their final form. FSSAI's notification records show that a draft amendment concerning the definition of foods high in added fat, added sugar or salt was issued in August 2026. The final regulatory framework and its implementation details will determine exactly which products and businesses are covered.
The debate therefore involves two connected issues: protecting children from unhealthy food environments and ensuring that new regulations do not create disproportionate difficulties for small businesses that depend on school-area trade. The final rules are expected to clarify how the 50-metre restriction will be measured, which foods will be covered and how enforcement will be carried out.
Journalist: Vijay Singh