Consumption of such products is much higher in the urban areas, especially metros, where life is fast-paced and stressful.
Are two-minute noodles your idea of breakfast when in a hurry? Do you buy ready-to-eat paneer curry for dinner because your cook is absent?
If yes, you are a part of India’s 82% workforce from metro cities which prefers to eat packaged food to eating outside, as per a new survey by Association of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).
The main categories of packaged food are bakery products, canned/dried processed food, frozen processed food, ready-to-eat meals, dairy products, diet snacks, processed meat and health products and drinks.
The survey, which was conducted in 2,000 households of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and other tier A cities, shows that ready-to-eat food is preferred by nuclear families, where both husband and wife are working professionals, bachelors who want to avoid hotel food, and people who do not have the time, patience or expertise to cook at home.
Consumption of such products is much higher in the urban areas, especially metros, where life is fast-paced and stressful. The report says urban areas contribute to almost 72% sale of such products, with the North and West responsible for 2/3 of the sale.
Though consumption of such food is bound to increase in metros due to a higher purchasing power and fast-changing lifestyle, nutrition experts feel it’s an alarming trend.
Professor of nutrition at SPN Doshi women’s college, Dr Leena Raje, says, “A traditionally cooked meal is becoming a rare thing; there is no alternative to freshly cooked meals.” She also warns people against buying unbranded packaged food.
After the imposition of stricter rules, all packaged items now carry nutritional value on the labels, but the veracity and actual benefits of added vitamins and minerals is debatable.
“Such foods claim to be fortified with extra vitamins and minerals, but no one knows how true that is. Also, the body doesn’t absorb artificial nutrients fully,” Raje adds.
Health experts also warn about the side effects of ready-to-eat food. Dr Sudhir Vaishnav, senior cardiologist at Lilavati and Hinduja hospitals, says, “Packaged food usually contains high level of salt, thus leading to rise in blood pressure. Such items are also high on trans-fats, which are worse than saturated fats as they increase bad cholesterol and reduce good cholesterol.”
He also expresses concern over preservatives. “Most of them are known carcinogens. But there are a few products which don’t contain preservatives and trans-fats. Therefore, one needs to be very cautious while buying such items. Reading the labels thoroughly is a must.”
Professor of nutrition at SNDT university, Dr Anjana Agrawal, believes otherwise. “With regard to food safety, packaged food is safe until opened and stored unhygienically. The packing material is so selected to minimise loss, increase shelf life and make it easy to transport and eat from.” She adds that proteins, carbohydrates and minerals are not usually altered much during packaging; there is some loss of vitamins.
“Biscuits and cakes, however, are not a healthy choice for major meals as they mainly contain fat and sugar. Also, food containing oil and fat, when exposed to heat and air, carries a high risk of deterioration,” she adds.
$15 billion The current worth of the packaged food industry
$30 billion The mark it is expected to touch by 2015
15-20% Rate at which it is growing annually
Sale of packaged food in 2011
East and Northeast- 21%
North- 28%
South- 21%
West- 30%
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