India is taking a closer look at what children can buy around schools as concerns about childhood obesity and unhealthy eating habits continue to grow.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is moving toward regulations that could restrict the sale and advertising of foods high in fat, salt and sugar — commonly referred to as HFSS foods — within 50 metres of schools.
The proposal could affect everything from small neighbourhood shops and food stalls to restaurants and larger food companies.
What Is India Proposing?
Under the proposed framework, restrictions would apply to certain foods classified as high in fat, salt or sugar around schools.
Products that could potentially be affected include:
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Sugary soft drinks
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Potato chips and other salty snacks
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Chocolates and confectionery
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Instant noodles
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Certain pizzas and burgers
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Fried snacks
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Other foods meeting the proposed HFSS thresholds
The initiative forms part of a broader effort to encourage healthier food environments for children.
FSSAI published a draft amendment in August 2026 concerning definitions and thresholds for foods high in added fat, added sugar or salt. The authority has invited public feedback on the proposal.
Why Is Childhood Obesity Becoming a Bigger Concern?
India's food habits have changed considerably over the past decade. Packaged snacks, sugary beverages and highly processed foods are increasingly accessible, including around schools.
According to data from the World Obesity Federation cited by Reuters, the number of Indian children and adolescents aged 5–19 classified as overweight or obese increased from approximately 28 million in 2015 to 41 million in 2025. The figure is projected to reach around 56 million by 2040 if current trends continue.
These trends have increased attention on children's diets and the food environments surrounding schools.
Why the 50-Metre Rule Matters
India has roughly 1.47 million schools, meaning even a relatively small restriction around each school could affect a large number of food businesses.
Small retailers, street-food vendors, cafés and restaurants located close to schools could have to reconsider which products they stock or promote if the proposed restrictions come into force.
For businesses, the challenge will be determining which products fall under the HFSS category and understanding exactly how the rules will be enforced.
Maharashtra Is Taking a Stricter Approach
The proposed national framework is not the only development.
Maharashtra has already taken a stricter approach toward HFSS products around schools. According to Reuters, the state's food safety authorities have said shops within 50 metres of schools should not stock such products.
State inspection data cited by Reuters showed violations at 133 shops, with 51 businesses ordered to discontinue operations under the enforcement approach described in the report.
This illustrates how implementation could vary between states as authorities attempt to translate the broader policy into practical enforcement.
What Could This Mean for Food Businesses?
The proposed regulations could create both challenges and opportunities.
Businesses operating near schools may need to:
1. Review Their Product Range
Retailers may need to identify products that fall within the proposed HFSS thresholds and consider replacing them with alternatives.
2. Offer Healthier Options
Fresh fruit, nutritious snacks, healthier beverages and products with more balanced nutritional profiles could become increasingly important for businesses serving school communities.
3. Reformulate Products
For food manufacturers, regulations could encourage reformulation to reduce levels of ingredients such as added sugar, salt and certain types of fat.
4. Adapt Marketing Strategies
Restrictions could also affect how certain products are advertised or promoted to children around schools.
What About Small Shop Owners?
The proposal has raised concerns among some businesses because schools are often located in busy commercial areas.
A shop near a school may serve many customers who are not students, making enforcement more complicated.
Industry representatives have also raised concerns that broad restrictions could affect livelihoods, particularly where neighbourhood shops depend heavily on sales to the surrounding community. Reuters reported that an industry submission argued that restrictions could create compliance difficulties in congested areas where schools and businesses operate alongside one another.
At the same time, FSSAI leadership has said shopkeepers could continue selling products that do not fall within the HFSS category.
India Is Not Alone
India's proposed approach follows a wider international movement toward regulating unhealthy food environments around children.
Chile, for example, introduced prominent warning labels and restrictions on the sale and promotion of certain unhealthy foods in schools. Researchers have studied the country's policies for their effects on children's diets, purchasing behaviour and product reformulation.
Other countries have also introduced restrictions on marketing or selling foods considered high in fat, salt or sugar to children.
What Happens Next?
The proposed Indian regulations are not yet a fully implemented nationwide 50-metre ban.
The current process involves developing and consulting on the regulatory framework. FSSAI's draft regulations were published for public feedback, with comments invited until October 6, 2026. Reuters reported that there is currently no fixed timeline for the final implementation of the rules.
The final regulations could therefore differ from the current proposal.
A Shift Toward a Healthier Food Environment
India's proposed restrictions represent a broader shift in how policymakers are approaching children's food environments.
Rather than focusing only on what children consume inside schools, policymakers are increasingly examining what is readily available immediately outside school gates.
For food manufacturers, retailers and restaurants, this could mean greater emphasis on nutritional composition, responsible marketing and healthier product alternatives.
For parents and schools, the debate is ultimately about creating an environment where healthier choices are easier for children to make.
The coming months will show how the proposed rules evolve and how India's food industry adapts to them.
Key Takeaways
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India is considering restrictions on certain HFSS foods around schools.
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A proposed 50-metre zone is central to the current discussion.
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The initiative is linked to concerns about rising childhood overweight and obesity.
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Small retailers, restaurants and food manufacturers could be affected.
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Maharashtra has already adopted a stricter enforcement approach.
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FSSAI is seeking public feedback on the proposed regulatory framework.
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The final nationwide rules and implementation timeline have not yet been established.
Source: Reuters, September 24, 2026; FSSAI draft regulations.
