The Balochistan Food Authority has taken a right decision to banned sale and consumption of carbonated drinks in educational institutions and decided not to allow sale of Ajinomoto salt in Balochistan, declaring it harmful for health.

To help kids follow a healthy diet, many schools throughout the Balochistan have banned carbonated drinks and junk food. But just because a student can’t buy carbonated drinks at his or her school doesn’t mean they won’t buy and drink them at home or outside school.

The decisions were made in the first meeting of the recently established Balochistan Food Authority (BFA) here on Friday. Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan was in the chair.

The meeting session expressed concern over negative impact of consumption of substandard food items on the health of people, especially women and children.

Carbonated drinks which are enthusiastically available in schools tuck shops have a number of detrimental strings attached to them. The extreme intake of these carbonated drinks by growing children leads to a lot of health problems like reduced bone density, stomach disorders, making them hyperactive, while also leading to an increased attention span deficit.

In this regard, the Balochistan Food Authority’s recent move to ban the sale of carbonated drinks in and around schools should be welcomed. Carbonated drinks have a magnetic effect on children and youngsters who are attracted to their sugary flavours and neon colours.

Carbonated drinks reduce the mental and physical growth of children. During their growing age, children need a healthy and balanced diet. But an excessive use of these carbonated drinks hurts children’s proper growth.

On the contrary, some other countries, on the advice of experts, have considered slapping a ‘fat tax’ on carbonated drinks as a way to fight high obesity rates. Justifying its decision, the BFA took the action as it says “carbonated drinks are injurious to health, affecting the physical growth of children”. Legal action will be taken against those selling such drinks in school canteens and within a 100-metre radius of educational institutions. The ban is due to take effect after the winter vacations.

With the carbonated drinks’ ban, we are reminded of tobacco makers’ targeting of youngsters with cute mascots and cartoons. Manufacturers of carbonated drinks should be free to market their products, but not directly to children too young to understand what is and what is not good for their health. The BFA’s move should be studied and replicated by all over the provinces so that children are kept away from carbonated drinks while in school. According to figures published in The Lancet some two years ago,

Pakistan ranked 9th out of 188 countries where obesity was concerned. Instead of allowing the influential producers of junk food to target children, more efforts must be made to encourage healthy eating habits so that children are provided with nutritious foods and snacks that aid their physical and mental growth. This is a good step taken to ensure that the consumption of unhealthy drinks is minimised.

The sale of carbonated drinks and junk products to the underage children, there is a need to disseminate the information of the adverse effects of their use. If people are not aware of the reason behind such a ban, it is unlikely that people will pay much heed to the issue.

The Incumbent government and Balochistan food Authority should made policy for schools preventing them the sale of carbonated drinks and junk food on canteens and it’s should be implemented in letter and true spirit.