Increasing consumption of junk foods and carbonated and cola drinks by school and college students seems to have finally caught the government's attention.

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Anbumani Ramadoss has sent a communication to Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh to take appropriate measures to check this increasing trend in all nniversities and educational institutions.

The communication, a copy of which was received at the Punjab Agricultural University on Thursday, said, "There is a worldwide concern over the increasing consumption of these junk foods and drinks which provide only energy and not nutrients.

This trend is not good from the public health point of view as consumption of such foods can cause chronic diseases like obesity, hypertension diabetes, startle, cancer etc."

The health minister has impressed upon the educational institutions to make people aware of the harmful effects of junk food and carbonated drinks.

He has also asked the institutions to discourage the sale of such foods like carbonated drinks, pizzas, burgers, hot dogs etc in college and school canteens.

The communication has also sought total ban on the consumption and sale of tobacco products in the college and university campus.

Taking note of the communication, PAU authorities have initiated action on the minister's advice.