The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has prohibited the sale, advertisement and free distribution of high fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) foods within a 50-metre radius of all school campuses, as part of a statewide initiative to promote healthier eating habits among children.

Under the guidelines, a range of commonly consumed processed and fried foods will no longer be permitted for sale near schools. These include bakery products such as cakes, pastries, cookies, biscuits and doughnuts; frozen and packaged foods including frozen pizza, microwave popcorn and potato chips; carbonated soft drinks; ice creams; and certain fats and spreads such as vanaspati ghee, stick margarine and non-dairy coffee creamers. The restrictions also cover popular local snacks such as vada pav.

In addition, local shopkeepers and street vendors operating within 50 metres of school premises have been instructed to comply with the restrictions on HFSS food items.

Beyond schools, the FDA has also introduced wider food safety reforms across Maharashtra. These include an eight-point "Farm-to-Plate" guideline to curb milk and paneer adulteration, increased inspections of food establishments, an AI-enabled grievance portal for consumers to report food safety violations, and a directive requiring restaurants to provide free, safe drinking water to customers.