The Right to Food Campaign, a network of activists working on food and nutrition, on Thursday said that it opposed the “unscientific” push to reduce oil consumption in the mid-day meal programme in government and aided schools under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman scheme and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the advisory.

“We need more not less healthy fats and oils for children,” the activists said. “In our experience, there are barriers for poorer communities to meet the recommended intake of fats and oils.”

Children and adolescents may therefore need to be consuming more, not less fats and oils, in most parts of the country, the statement added,

On March 15, the issued an advisory urging state governments to reduce the usage of cooking oil by 10% in the mid-day meal programmes under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman scheme, The Hindu reported.

The centrally-sponsored scheme is aimed at providing nutritious meals to students enrolled in government and aided schools.

The ministry noted that there was a need to raise awareness among teachers, parents, students and community members on reducing the usage of cooking oil by 10% in daily life through innovative ways.

“All cook-cum-helpers in schools must be trained to reduce the usage of cooking oil by 10%,” the advisory...