Indian Academy of Pediatric Guidelines for Junk Food
In view of easy availability and increasing trend of consumption of fast foods and sugar sweetened beverages
(fruit juices and drinks, carbonated drinks, energy drinks) in Indian children, and their association with increasing obesity and related non-communicable diseases, there is a need to develop guidelines related to consumption of foods and drinks that have the potential to increase this problem in children and adolescents.
General Recommendations
Avoid consumption of the JUNCS foods and beverages by all children and adolescents, as far as possible. Alternatively, limit consumption of the JUNCS foods at home/outside and have not more than one serving per week; not exceeding 50% of total daily energy intake for that age. Do not consume foods while watching television/screen. Eliminate trans-fat and reduce free sugars to <5% of total energy intake.
- Eliminate trans-fat and reduce free sugars to <5% of total energy intake.
- Freshly cooked home foods with minimal addition of sugar and no trans-fats should be preferred over restaurant/packaged foods.
- Traditional and acceptable home-made snacks with long shelf-line can be offered to children as alternative to the JUNCS foods.
- Lunch boxes packed only with healthy food should be carried to school if school does not have provision of providing healthy mid-day meal.
- The JUNCS food should not be offered as reward/gift to any child as this gives undue promotion to unhealthy foods.
Fruit Juices
Encourage intake of regional and seasonal whole fruits over fruit juices in children and adolescents. Fruit juices/fruit drinks/SSBs should not be offered to infants and young children aged below 2 years.
- For children and adolescents (2-18 years) fruit juices, fruit drinks and SSBs should be avoided as far as possible. Water should be encouraged as the best drink and should be promoted over fruit juices/drinks at home and school.
- Fruit juices/drinks, if given, should be limited to 125 mL per day for children aged between 2-5 years, and 250 mL per day for age >5 years; and these should preferably be given as fresh juices.
Caffeinated Drinks
- Caffeinated energy drinks should not be consumed by children and adolescents. Intake of carbonated drinks, tea and coffee is to be completely avoided by children <5 years.
- In school going children and adolescents, tea/coffee intake should be limited to maximum of half cup/day (100 mL) in 5-9 y, and one cup/day (200 mL) in adolescents (10-18 y), provided no other caffeinated products (cola, chocolates) are being consumed.
