The Madhya Pradesh government on Monday emphasised the urgent need to strictly enforce food safety and standards regulations, following concerns raised in the state assembly over the growing consumption of junk food among children.
During the Question Hour, BJP MLA from Jabalpur North, Abhilash Pandey, raised the issue and sought details on whether the state had conducted any special drives in the past six months to curb food adulteration, particularly in fast food items.
Pandey highlighted that the increasing consumption of junk food in the state was contributing to a rise in various health issues. Responding to the concerns, Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, who also holds the health portfolio, acknowledged the seriousness of the issue.
"There is a pressing need to strictly enforce the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines. The matter is of grave concern," Shukla said.
He further informed the House that the state government had taken action against food adulteration, recovering Rs 9 crore in penalties from violators. Additionally, he noted that the government was in the process of formulating a comprehensive roadmap to safeguard public health.
MLA Pandey specifically pointed out that fast food items contained Ajinomoto (a brand name for monosodium glutamate), artificial flavoring agents, and preservatives, which could have adverse health effects.
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He sought clarification on whether guidelines were in place to monitor and regulate such ingredients in food products.
The discussion also referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks in his February 23 'Mann Ki Baat' address, where he raised concerns over the rising obesity rates, particularly among children. Modi had urged people to reduce their consumption of cooking oil and make healthier dietary choices.
Adding to the discussion, Madhya Pradesh Assembly Affairs Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya shared insights from a recent meeting he held with doctors in Indore.
He revealed that the medical experts had linked the increasing cases of heart attacks among children to excessive junk food consumption. Vijayvargiya stressed that many processed food items were being designed in a way that made them highly addictive, posing a serious threat to children's health.
The debate underscored the growing concerns over junk food consumption and the need for stringent regulations to protect public health, especially among children.
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