Telangana: State-run schools told to reduce cooking oil by 10 percent in mid-day meals

To check increasing obesity among children, following directions from the Central government, the School Education Department instructed schools to cut down on cooking oil usage in the mid-day meals

Hyderabad: Mid-day meals served in government and local body schools are set to become less oily.

The School Education Department instructed its schools to reduce the usage of cooking oil in mid-day meal preparation by 10 per cent.

In response to increasing obesity among the children, following directions from the Central government, the department recently instructed schools to cut down on cooking oil in mid-day meals. This initiative is aimed at encouraging healthier eating habits among students.

In the ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha 2025’ and ‘Man ki Baat’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about childhood obesity among school students in India.

The Lancet journal reported that 12.5 million between the age group of 5-19 years were overweight in 2022 as compared to 0.4 million in 1990. The share of boys was more than that of girls and was more predominant in urban areas.

Highlighting the trend, Modi suggested practical advice, including the importance of reducing the usage of cooking oil by 10 per cent in day-to-day food.