Report released by World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations found that India’s Ultra-Processed Food Sector grew at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.37 % in retail sales value from 2011 to 2021.
Ultra Processed Food
- Processed food usually has salt, sugar and fat added to it. Food is considered ultra-processed if five or more ingredients have been added to the original product.
- These other ingredients are usually flavour and taste enhancers, emulsifiers and colours, and all of them are meant to improve shelf life and taste or make the food convenient to eat.
- For instance, atta in raw form is unprocessed. Dalia, with salt and sugar added, is processed food. If we make cookies out of atta and add a lot of other things, it is ultra-processed.
Concerns
- Salt, sugar and fat are commonly added to all processed food. Such foods are not healthy to consume regularly or in large quantities.
- They can cause obesity, hypertension, cardiac issues and lifestyle diseases. The artificial chemicals added to ultra-processed food have a negative impact on gut health.
- Any imbalance in gut health can lead to a host of problems, from neurological issues and stress to mood swings and obesity.
- Most ultra-processed foods use taste enhancers, so people automatically get addicted to them.
- On top of that, the natural food is broken down to such an extent that it gets absorbed very quickly by the body.
- The effect of high doses of simple sugar is that the body releases insulin, which makes you feel hungry and want to eat more food. That is why we say sugar is addictive.
Key Highlights of the Report
Temporary Disruption and Rebounded
- The Covid-19 Pandemic caused a temporary disruption, causing the annual growth rate of the Indian ultra-processed food sector to plummet from 12.65% in 2019 to 5.50% in 2020.
- However, the sector rebounded remarkably, with an 11.29% growth recorded in 2020-2021.
Dominant Categories and Sales Volume
- The most popular ultra-processed food categories include chocolate and sugar confectionery, salty snacks, beverages, ready-made and convenient foods, and breakfast cereals.
- In terms of retail sales volume from 2011 to 2021, beverages held the highest share, followed by chocolate and sugar confectionery and ready-made and convenience foods.
Health Consciousness and Changing Consumption Patterns
- Health-conscious consumers shifted away from carbonated sugar-sweetened beverages to fruit and vegetable juices during the pandemic, potentially due to their perceived immune-boosting properties.
- However, these alternative beverages may also contain high levels of free sugars.