States Asked to Cut Sugar, Salt in Meals Served to Children

Directive from women and child development ministry aims to tackle growing obesity in India

- Priyanka Sharma

Concerned over rising cases of child obesity in India, the Centre has asked states and Union territories (UTs) to reduce added sugar, salt, preservatives, colours and other synthetic ingredients in meals provided in government schools and anganwadi centres, an official aware of the matter said.

Anganwadis are rural childcare centres, started by the government in 1975 and tasked with providing basic healthcare services in villages and combatting child hunger and malnutrition.