Only 28% of Indians Consume Healthy Foods, 38% Opt for Fried and Processed Snacks, Reports reveal

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) released its Global Food Policy Report 2024: Food Systems for Healthy Diets and Nutrition on May 29, raising serious concerns about the dietary habits in India. The report highlights a significant shift towards unhealthy food consumption, overshadowing the intake of nutritious options.

According to the report, "more people in India consume unhealthy foods such as salty or fried snacks, compared to those consuming vegetables, fruits, and other micronutrient-rich foods." This shift has led to 16.6 percent of the country’s population suffering from malnutrition, a rise from 15.4 percent in 2011. The prevalence of overweight adults has also increased from 12.9 percent in 2006 to 16.4 percent in 2016.

At least 38 percent of the Indian population eats unhealthy foods, while only 28 percent consume all five recommended food groups, which include a starchy staple, a vegetable, a fruit, a pulse, nut or seed, and an animal-source food. This preference for calorie-dense and nutrient-poor foods is not only high but also growing, leading to an increase in both undernutrition and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity.

The report underscored the rising consumption of processed foods in India and other South Asian countries. These include chocolates, sugar confectioneries, salty snacks, beverages, ready-made convenience foods, and breakfast cereals. After cereals and milk, snacks and prepared foods now account for a major part of Indian food budgets. "The share of packaged (highly processed and calorie-dense) foods in household food budgets nearly doubled during this period, to 12 percent from 6.5 percent," the report states.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently issued dietary guidelines warning that "information presented on packaged food can be misleading." Among its 17 guidelines, ICMR advises consumers to read food labels carefully and minimize the consumption of high-fat, sugar, salt, and ultra-processed foods.

The report, co-authored by 41 researchers from IFPRI and partner organizations, calls for urgent action to transform global food systems. "The 2024 GFPR serves as a clarion call for prioritizing sustainable, healthy diets as a cornerstone of public health and sustainable development," said Johan Swinnen, director general of IFPRI.

Deanna Olney, director of IFPRI’s nutrition, diets, and health unit, emphasized the critical need for dietary improvements, stating, "Evidence suggests that poor quality diets are the leading cause of disease worldwide and that one in five lives could be saved by improving diets."

The report urged a comprehensive approach to ensure equitable access to sustainable, healthy diets, highlighting the necessity of addressing all forms of malnutrition and diet-related diseases through improved dietary practices.

Reference: International Food Policy Research Institute. 2024. Global food policy report 2024: Food systems for healthy diets and nutrition. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute.