No sugar for children: Commission seeks changes to Amrutham Nutrimix

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed that sugar be completely eliminated from Amrutham Nutrimix distributed to children through anganwadis. Adding sugar could affect children's health, and the inclusion of a small quantity of jaggery could be considered, said commission member P. Shajesh Bhaskar. Sugar can cause long-term health problems, and its inclusion is contrary to children's right to nutritious food, he said.

The commission directed the Director of the Women and Child Development Department to constitute a high-level committee to scientifically determine the nutritional composition of products. It also directed that guidelines be prepared specifying the quantity of Nutrimix to be provided to children according to their age under the Take Home Ration scheme. Nutritional information and the quantity to be given to children should be printed on product package labels.

The department should also conduct awareness programmes for anganwadi workers and beneficiaries, both directly and through Poshan Tracker and WhatsApp groups, on the use of nutritional supplements, including Amrutham Nutrimix, the methods to be followed while preparing them and the need to adopt healthy habits. The directions were issued on a petition filed by K. Sahla of Pattithara in Palakkad.