India Food Stats

On 25th May 2025, FSSAI has advised Food Business Operators (FBO) to stop using the term “100%” on product labels and ads , calling it ambiguous and potentially misleading under current regulations. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, an FBO refers to: "Any person or entity engaged in the manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution, or sale of food." According to FSSAI, “100%” is not defined under the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018, and its use can be ambiguous and misleading. The regulator notes that such claims may create a false impression of absolute purity or superiority over other products. Hence, food businesses are required to ensure that all claims remain truthful, clear, and not misleading. Meanwhile, the  Open Food Facts database of packaged food products  shows that several products — from fruit juices and whole wheat flour to atta bread and protein powders — continue to carry “100%...

In the chaos of 1971's Bangladesh refugee crisis, Dr. Dilip Mahalanabis , an Indian pediatrician, made a lifesaving breakthrough. Amid cholera outbreaks killing thousands from dehydration, he pioneered Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS)—a simple mix of water, salt, sugar, and electrolytes that could be sipped to replace lost fluids. Without fancy labs or equipment, his field trials in refugee camps saved over 50,000 lives, slashing death rates from 30% to 3%. This humble invention became a global game-changer, hailed by the World Health Organization as one of the 20th century's top medical advances, and it's still a staple in every Indian home for fighting diarrhea. Fast-forward to modern times - ORS got a twisted makeover with products like Electral .  Image - OpenFoodFacts.org Launched in the 1970s as a legitimate electrolyte powder, it soon faced copycats—sugary energy drinks masquerading as ORS.  These "fake ORS" emerged in the 2000s, packed with high fructose...

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) like sugary snacks and instant meals are everywhere, packed with ingredients you won’t find in your kitchen .  They’re cheap and tasty but loaded with sugar, unhealthy fats, and additives that hook you into eating more and skipping real food.  Research shows cutting back could boost your health, as UPFs drive obesity and even speed up aging . UPFs are biologically disruptive . The ICMR-NIN dietary guidelines for Indians highlight that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are primarily caused by the consumption of ultra-processed foods and products high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) . UPF consumption is exploding across all age and income groups and is driven by unchecked aggressive marketing, celebrity endorsements and “health halo” claims. Our food choices are shaped by income, government policies, and industry tricks, making UPFs hard to avoid .  Key takeaway: swap processed snacks for homemade options and push for better food rules to stay h...

Freshly prepared and minimally processed foods are good for health, while a higher degree of processing makes them unsuitable although they taste great. 😋 Image from OpenFoodFacts.org The catchy name "Pokeman Ramen Fun Masala" and colorful packaging is designed to appeal to children. Let's review the analysis of Open Food Facts (OFF) for this product -  Pokeman Ramen Fun Masala 's ingredients are typical for instant noodles - Refined Wheat Flour (Maida), Edible Vegetable Oil (Palm Oil), Dehydrated Pieces 4.28% (Corn, Green Peas, Carrot, French Beans & Curry Leaves), Sugar, Iodised Salt, Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein Powder (Soya), Onion Powder Corn Starch, Mixed Spices 1.23% (Turmeric, Coriander, Black Pepper, Cumin, Fenugreek, Ginger, Clove, Nutmeg & Green Cardamom), Maltodextrin, Yeast Extract Powder, Flavour Enhancers (INS 631, INS 627 & INS 620), Acidity Regulators (INS 500(i), INS 451(i) &INS 330], Thickener (INS 415) & Antioxidant (INS 319)  ...

Highlights from the research study on Dietary profiles and associated metabolic risk factors in India from the ICMR–INDIAB survey-21   The Crisis: NCDs account for 68% of all deaths in India India, home to nearly 20% of the global population, has undergone rapid nutrition and epidemiological transitions over past two decades Cardiometabolic diseases are rising alarmingly due to dietary transitions What Indians Are Eating (The Problem): Indian adults consume 65-75% of daily calories from carbohydrates (one of the highest in the world) 61% eat white rice as primary staple, 34% eat whole wheat flour Millet consumption is high only in Karnataka, Gujarat, and Maharashtra India accounts for 15% of global sugar consumption Added sugar consumption exceeds recommendations in most states Saturated fat intake exceeds recommendations in many states (from ghee in North, palm/coconut oil in South) Protein intake is suboptimal at just 12% of daily calories The Carbohydrate Problem: In...