Canteens, students yet to junk fast food!
UGC has ordered ban on sale of junk food on campuses, but samosas, kachoris, bread pakoras and tikkis continue to sell like hot cakes in LU canteens
LUCKNOW: Samosas and other junk food items continue to be a part of students’ platter in canteens of some universities and colleges in the state. This is despite the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) recent order to varsities to stop serving junk food on the campuses.
A reality check at some of the canteens in the University of Lucknow established that varsities apparently did not attempt to comply with the UGC directive. The order was issued with the aim of setting new standards of healthy food, making students live better, learn better and reduce obesity levels.
Almost all fried foods, including samosas, kachoris, chhola puri, bread pakoras and tikkis, which are usually served in college canteens, were categorised as junk food.
In November 2016, UGC issued a similar order that was also ‘junked’ by canteen owners and varsity officials.
“We don’t go to the canteen for a full meal. We just go there for a little chitchat. One plate samosa and a hot cup of tea is what we prefer to have there. There is very little time between two classes. We just pick up samosa and tea and head towards our classroom,” said Ankita Khan, a BA final year student.
“With our classes lined up one after the other, the best thing is to take a samosa or something similar and move on,” said Shweta Singh, an undergraduate student.
Due to nominal prices and easy availability, samosas, bread pakoras and patties sell like hot cakes.
Rakesh Shukla, a first year student of LU, said good prices of these items make them the likely choice. “We only get a small amount as pocket money that only allows us to buy samosa or kachori. These things also taste good and we have them as snacks, not as a meal,” he said.
LU spokesperson NK Pandey said, “We are in the process of allocating canteens. A missive will be sent to the existing canteen owners to prepare nutritious food that has less calories. Samosas cannot be put entirely in the junk food category.”
Thinking power, digestion and cardiovascular system can be affected by the type of food we eat. Consuming junk has an adverse effect in the long run PROF SAMIR MISRA, the department of trauma surgery at KGMU
“Missives and strictures alone will not help take junk food off the students’ platter. Health awareness programmes are the best way to encourage students to go for more nutritious food. These days youths are more health conscious,” said Arvind Dixit, vice- chancellor of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra.
Anil Shukla, vice-chancellor, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University in Bareilly said educating students on having nutritious food is an answer but removing samosas off the menu is not a solution.
In November 2016, the Council of Boards of School Education (COBSE) — a joint body of all boards — took a decision to ban junk food on campuses keeping in mind the health of school children. UP Board is also part of COBSE.
PRESERVATIVES AFFECT COGNITIVE POWER
Junk food has an adverse effect on those who consume it regularly, particularly youngsters.
“Thinking power, digestion and cardiovascular system can be affected by the type of food we eat. Consuming junk has an adverse effect in the long run,” said Prof Samir Misra, of the department of trauma surgery at KGMU.
The preservatives in junk food affect cognitive power in the long run.
“All junk foods have some preservative as they need to be preserved for long before being consumed. That is why in our homes it is preferred that meals are eaten soon after being cooked,” said Misra.
The super saturated fatty acids in junk food can reduce blood level and also have an adverse impact on cardiovascular system.