Archive · 29 Aug 2026
Odisha Colleges Told to Cut Oil, Fried Foods
The Odisha government has asked colleges to use less cooking oil.
It wants hostels and canteens to serve fewer deep-fried foods.
Puris, vadas and bondas were specifically mentioned as foods to avoid at breakfast.
Colleges must still make sure students receive nutritious meals.
Officials recommended ghee, mustard oil and groundnut oil as alternatives to some imported oils.
They said supply problems have affected food, fertiliser and fuel.
The department also referred to economic pressure and a public appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
National Service Scheme and Youth Red Cross volunteers will encourage families to use less oil at home.
Some teachers said students may find the menu changes difficult because fried foods are popular.
Odisha ordered government and government-aided colleges to reduce cooking-oil use in hostels and canteens.
Principals were asked to avoid puris, vadas and bondas for breakfast.
The directive calls for less deep-fried food while preserving students’ nutrition.
Colleges were encouraged to use ghee, mustard oil and groundnut oil instead of imported palm, sunflower and soybean oil.
The government cited global supply disruptions and asked student volunteers to promote lower household oil use.
- Who
- The Odisha Higher Education Department, through Deputy Secretary Ramesh Chandra Behera, addressed principals of government-run and government-aided colleges.
- What
- Colleges were directed to reduce cooking-oil use, avoid high-oil breakfast foods and limit deep-fried items while maintaining nutrition.
- When
- The letter was issued on Friday; one report dated it August 28.
- Where
- Government and government-aided colleges in Odisha, including their hostels and canteens.
- Why
- The department cited global supply-chain disruptions, conflicts affecting food, fertiliser and fuel supplies, economic pressures and healthier eating habits.
Government rationale
College teachers’ concern
Changing breakfast menus
Government rationale
The government wants colleges to avoid high-oil foods and reduce deep-fried items to address economic and supply pressures while encouraging healthier eating.
College teachers’ concern
Some teachers said avoiding popular fried foods could be difficult because puris, vadas and ghuguni are student favourites for breakfast.
- Issuing authority
- Odisha Higher Education Department
- Recipient institutions
- Government-run and government-aided colleges
- Foods specifically mentioned
- Puris, vadas and bondas, especially at breakfast
- Main instruction
- Reduce cooking oil and deep-fried food without compromising nutrition
- Recommended cooking mediums
- Ghee, mustard oil and groundnut oil
- Oils to reduce
- Imported palm, sunflower and soybean oil
- Community outreach
- National Service Scheme and Youth Red Cross volunteers were asked to organise awareness programmes
Sources
World facing fuel shortage, cut deep fried foods: Odisha diktat to colleges
College hostels asked to avoid oily food
Odisha colleges told to cut cooking oil use, keep puris and vadas off breakfast menu - Telegraph India
