Junk Food Ban in Schools

The Health Ministry has sent a directive to schools across the country banning them from selling junk food.

Schools have been banned from selling 20 unhealthy food products, including popsicles, potato chips, puffed corn snacks, sausages and fizzy drinks on the campus, head of the Health Ministry’s work and environment health center, Khosrow Sadeqniat, told state television on Friday.

Noting that 100,000 schools were inspected for food safety during the last academic year (ended in June), he said food safety inspections in schools will improve and expand this year, ISNA reported.

A recent study conducted by the ministry on 43,000 students indicated that 21% are either obese or overweight.