‘Sugar Boards’ Installed Across 160 Schools

The Food Safety Department’s district-level advisory committee has installed ‘sugar boards’ in 160 schools across Kozhikode, Kerala. The move is part of an ongoing health awareness campaign aimed at reducing excessive sugar consumption among students, a step officials hope will help combat rising cases of childhood diabetes.

Progress Across Health and Food Safety Programmes

Alongside the sugar reduction initiative, the committee, chaired by Assistant Collector Dr S. Mohanapriya, reviewed progress on other district-wide health and food safety programmes. These include the Safe and Nutritious Food (SNF) at School scheme, active in 30 schools, the Eat Right School initiative in 26 schools, and the Hygiene Rating programme, currently covering 520 food establishments.

Inspections and Regulatory Actions Ensure Compliance

Between April and June, officials issued 1,553 food safety licences and completed 5,983 registrations, while carrying out 1,606 inspections across the district. They also collected and tested 1,099 samples (473 statutory and 626 surveillance), which helped identify compliance gaps. Based on the reports, 37 cases were filed, 106 establishments received notices for minor violations, and nearly 50 were penalised for major breaches, resulting in ₹2.04 lakh in fines.

Building a Healthier Future for Students

Through these initiatives, Kozhikode aims to promote safer food, better hygiene, and improved nutrition in schools and public food establishments. Officials say that such efforts will strengthen awareness about healthy eating habits among students and reinforce overall food safety standards in the district.

Source: The Hindu