India is a young country. But our children and youth are being denied their right to a healthy future through the spread of junk food, fake food, and toxic food.

On Children’s Day 2015, Navdanya launched a campaign on Children’s Right to Healthy Food (Yuva Anna Swaraj).

Junk Food vs Healthy Alternatives

Health Concerns

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity in adults has increased by 60% over the last twenty years, and obesity among children has tripled in the past thirty years.

McNuggets (190 calories, 12 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat for 4 pieces) contain the chemical preservative tBHQ (tertiary butyl-hydroquinone), a petroleum-based product.

Obesity and diabetes accounted for more than 50% of deaths among children and adults in India in 2005; by 2030, they are projected to cause two-thirds of all deaths.

The National Family Health Survey (2005–06) reported that at least one in every eight Indians is overweight or obese.

Following the Delhi High Court’s 2015 ruling, FSSAI drafted guidelines suggesting canteen policies and school health education programmes to raise awareness about unhealthy food habits. The guidelines propose restricting sale of foods high in fat, salt, or sugar within 50 metres of school premises, including chips, ready-to-eat noodles, pizzas, burgers, sugary drinks, fries, and confectionery.

Call to Action — Yuva Anna Swaraj

In protecting our youth, we invite young people to join the Yuva Anna Swaraj movement and take a pledge of freedom from junk and toxic food by shifting to healthy and organic food. Let us work together to make young India a healthy India.

• Say NO to junk, fake, and toxic foods high in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS).
• Say NO to GMOs by protecting our sarson and banana from genetic contamination.
• Promote canteens that provide nourishing, organic, and safe food including Nani ke Paakwan and Nani ke Namkeen.
• Grow our own healthy food through Gardens of Hope.