Ministry mulls penalties for school canteens flouting healthy food guidelines

Colombo, June 24 (Daily Mirror) - The Ministry of Health is considering imposing penalties on school canteens that fail to comply with newly introduced healthy food guidelines aimed at promoting safe and nutritious eating habits among students, Daily Mirror learns.

Health Ministry sources said authorities are currently exploring mechanisms to take action against canteens that violate the guidelines, with penalties likely to be introduced as part of efforts to create a healthier food environment for students.

Under the "Guidelines on Healthy School Canteens", a wide range of processed foods, sugary snacks and unhealthy fast foods have been banned from sale in school canteens.

Health authorities said school canteens must maintain a clean, safe and easily accessible environment free from disease-carrying vectors, while ensuring continuous supervision of canteen operations.

Food handlers are also required to maintain high standards of personal hygiene and be fully aware of their responsibilities.

According to the Ministry, menus should be prepared by taking into account children's preferences, nutritional value and Sri Lanka's local food culture.

The guidelines also seek to ensure that students have access to affordable, safe and nutritious meals while discouraging the consumption of highly processed foods and products with excessive amounts of sugar, salt and unhealthy fats.

The Ministry has also emphasized the importance of promoting healthier eating practices from an early age and encouraging the inclusion of fresh and locally available food items in school meals.

School authorities and canteen operators have been instructed to strictly adhere to the regulations, with periodic inspections and monitoring expected to be carried out to ensure compliance.