Students campaign against junk food
December 19th, 2011 - 7:13 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) Braving the morning chill, around 1,200 students of Father Agnel School formed a human chain here Monday to send out a message against consumption of junk food.
The human chain spelt out the words “Junk The Junk Food”.
“This is not a fight against a type of food, it’s our children’s fight against the processed food industry,” said Father J.A. Cavalho, head of the school.
Addressing the students, he explained how several brands of snacks contain banned substances such as Mono Sodium Glutamate (MSG).
“This is an engineered system. Due to these substances, our body grows habituated to such foods and craves for more of such junk food,” he said.
Anuradha Dey, a biology teacher, said it was a lifestyle issue and lifestyle changes were needed to correct it.
“Lifestyle diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes are becoming prevalent in 13-19 years’ age group due to excess consumption of junk food. Even in our school, some children face these issues,” Dey told IANS.
Members of the Student Parliament, a students’ body for self-governance in the school, shared their own experiences with junk food and how the campaign had changed their views about the issue.
“I don’t eat junk food. And nowadays, I am trying to convert my younger sister too,” Mallika Arora, a Class 11 student, told IANS.
Another student Sugandha Sharma said: “I love food but I have become more proactive about my food choices.”
The event also involved a street play on the adverse effects of junk food and a T-shirt painting competition. A postcard writing drive was also organised.
Uday Foundation, a non government organisation working for children’s health, had filed a petition against the irregularities and absence of guidelines in Delhi school canteens regarding the food being served.
“A team of our students will go to the high court on Wednesday to present the postcards to the chief justice and make him aware of the children’s wishes,” Father Cavalho added.
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Tags: anuradha, biology teacher, chief justice, delhi school, dey, excess consumption, food choices, government organisation, high blood pressure, irregularities, junk food, lifestyle changes, lifestyle diseases, mono sodium glutamate, processed food industry, school canteens, self governance, spelt, student parliament, type of food