Why are ‘sugar boards’ necessary in schools?, Pg8

• The CBSE has directed over 24,000 affiliated schools to set up “sugar boards” to raise awareness about the risks of high sugar consumption among children.

• Sugar boards visually show how many teaspoons of sugar are present in popular packaged drinks, helping students grasp the quantity consumed.

• This initiative was triggered by growing concerns over childhood obesity, lifestyle diseases, and an alarming rise in Type 2 Diabetes among Indian children.

• Why Sugar Boards Now?

  -   The **National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)** recommended sugar boards in **all CBSE and State board-affiliated schools**.
  -   Over the last decade, India has seen a **12% increase in obesity** in school children.
  
  -   Visual education (e.g., showing 8 teaspoons of sugar in a soft drink) helps instil **critical thinking and behavioural change** in dietary habits.
  
  
  
  Link with Type 2 Diabetes in Children:
  
  
  Though precise national data is unavailable, India has the third highest incidence of childhood Type 2 Diabetes, after China and the U.S.
  
  Dr. Divya Gupta noted studies showing that children (aged 10–18) consume 13% of their daily caloric intake from sugar, exceeding WHO’s 5% safe limit.
  
  
  
  FSSAI’s Position on Regulation:
  
  
  The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is working on finalising a “High Fat, Salt, and Sugar (HFSS)” definition for school meals.
  
  
  FSSAI already restricts sugar claims on packaged goods (e.g., “low sugar” = <5 gm per 100 gm).
  
  
  India currently uses WHO guidelines limiting sugar to 25 gm/day for children (6 teaspoons), but experts urge for lower limits due to India’s higher vulnerability to heart disease and metabolic disorders.
  
  
  
  
  Policy Outlook:
  
  
  NCPCR plans to issue dietary directives on low-sugar school meals, and is gathering data from paediatricians and hospitals for broader nutrition reforms.
  
  Stakeholder meetings are underway with doctors, parents, and teachers to mainstream nutrition literacy among school children.
  

Mains Mock Question:

Q. Rising lifestyle diseases in Indian children have highlighted the need for dietary reform in schools. Evaluate the role of sugar boards and regulatory frameworks in promoting nutrition literacy among students.