Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) is tasked with tackling issues related to nutrition and specifically to under-nutrition among the children, pregnant and lactating
mothers and adolescent girls through various schemes. Considering the responsibilities assigned to the Ministry, the necessity to address the issue of Junk Foods contributing to
childhood obesity has been designated as well. A Working Group on matters relating to consumption of Junk foods has been constituted under the Chairpersonship of Shri T. Longvah, Director In-Charge, National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) along with experts in the field of Food, Nutrition and Health. The Terms of Reference of the Working Group are as:
Preparation of recommendations for definition of Junk Foods; Examining the current framework for packaging of prepared foods and giving suitable recommendations for modification of the same; Studying the behaviour/psychology aspects of over nutrition and suggesting measurers which could be taken by concerned Ministries to address the same; Preparation of guidelines for adoption by State Governments/UT Administrations on sale of Junk Foods in school canteens or in the vicinity of schools by private vendors;
and; Preparation of guidelines for use by print and electronic media and by advertising agencies on promotion and marketing of Junk Foods.