FSSAI proposes limits on high fat, sugar and salt foods in schools

FSSAI has proposed limits for high fat, high sugar and high salt foods in schools, as part of efforts to encourage healthier eating among children and tackle childhood obesity.FSSAI proposes limits on fat, sugar and salt in school foods, aiming to encourage healthier eating habits among children and curb unhealthy food consumption.What children eat at school could soon come under closer scrutiny. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed specific limits for high fat, high sugar and high salt (HFSS) foods in schools. The proposed standards set different limits for solid and liquid foods, based on the amount of added fat, added sugar and salt they contain.Under the proposal, foods crossing these limits would be classified as high fat, high sugar or high salt. FSSAI has invited stakeholders to submit their objections and suggestions within 60 days, making this an important step in discussions about school food and childhood obesity.HIGH FAT, SUGAR AND SALT LIMITS FOR SOLID FOODSFor solid foods, the proposed limits are based on every 100 grams of food.NutrientProposed high limitAdded fatMore than 4.2 g per 100 gAdded sugarMore than 3 g per 100 gSaltMore than 0.625 g per 100 gThis means a solid food containing more than 4.2 grams of added fat per 100 grams would be classified as high fat. Similarly, more than 3 grams of added sugar would qualify as high sugar, while more than 0.625 grams of salt would make it high salt. Screen Grab of the post by X. (The tweet was originally in Hindi. This is the translated version.) LIQUID FOODS GET SEPARATE LIMITSFor liquid foods, the proposed thresholds are calculated per 100 ml.NutrientProposed high limitAdded fatMore than 1.5 g per 100 mlAdded sugarMore than 2 g per 100 mlSaltMore than 0.175 g per 100 mlSo, drinks and other liquid foods would also be assessed for their added fat, added sugar and salt content under the proposed FSSAI school food guidelines.FSSAI SEEKS FEEDBACK WITHIN 60 DAYS The limits are part of a proposal and are not final yet. FSSAI has asked all stakeholders to submit their objections and suggestions within 60 days. The feedback will be considered as the process moves forward.The move puts the spotlight on what is served and sold in schools, particularly foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt. It also adds to the wider conversation around healthier school food and childhood obesity.- EndsPublished By: vaishnavi parasharPublished On: Aug 11, 2026 11:55 IST