Recently in Karnataka The Department of School Education and Literacy has issued an order directing schools to discontinue the distribution of peanut chikkis as part of the midday meal scheme, as the chikkis have been reported as substandard quality which in turn could have bad effects on the children's health. Instead the schools have been instructed to provide eggs or bananas as a nutritional supplement.

The decision follows a letter from the Additional Commissioner of the Department of School Education and Literacy- Dharwad, which raised concerns about the high sugar content and unsaturated fats in chikkis. The letter also highlighted issues related to storage practices, warning of potential contamination risks.

The official order states -“Considering the fact that consumption of chikkis is adversely impacting the health of children, it has been decided to stop them from being distributed to schoolchildren. Schools have been instructed to distribute eggs or bananas.”

However, sources from the department revealed that around eight lakh children across the state had chosen chikkis as their preferred nutritional supplement. A senior official noted that nearly 30% of the 55 lakh students receiving midday meals were previously given chikki

It's interesting to note that this isn't the first time chikki supply was put an end to.The Maharashtra government had informed the Bombay High Court that it had stopped the supply of 'chikki' food snacks to school students on July 10 following complaints that it was "sub-standard.

The problem of sub standard chikki or any type sub standard food should indeed come under strict scrutiny especially if they are given to children