The Odisha government has advised principals of all government and aided colleges in the state to avoid serving highly oily breakfast items such as puri, bara and other deep-fried foods in their college canteens.
The Higher Education Department issued the advisory through a letter written by Deputy Secretary Ramesh Chandra Behera to the principals of government and aided colleges on Friday.
In the letter, Behera highlighted the challenges posed by recurring global supply chain disruptions and economic crises since the COVID-19 pandemic. He said recent conflicts involving Ukraine and Iran have further affected the supply of food, fertilisers and fuel.
“No country in the world is immune to the economic impact of these crises,” the letter noted.
Referring to measures adopted by several countries to reduce fuel consumption, the Deputy Secretary said India too is facing the adverse consequences of the prolonged global crisis.
He further stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a public appeal to citizens to contribute in small ways towards addressing the challenges faced by the country.
As part of this broader effort, the Higher Education Department has asked college authorities to reconsider canteen menus and avoid breakfast items that require excessive use of cooking oil, including puri, bara and other oil-fried foods.
The move is expected to affect the regular breakfast menus of government and aided college canteens across Odisha. However, the department’s letter primarily focuses on reducing the consumption of edible oil and fuel amid concerns over global supply disruptions and their economic impact.
College authorities are likely to explore alternative food options that require less oil and energy for preparation.