India Food Stats

FODMAP stands for f ermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols.   It refers to a group of carbohydrates that can be poorly absorbed in the small intestine, leading to digestive issues for some individuals, particularly those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) .  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder affecting approximately 15% of people worldwide.  The low FODMAP diet is designed to help individuals identify and eliminate foods that trigger symptoms like cramping, gas, and diarrhea, ultimately improving digestive health.  Studies show that many people with IBS experience significant relief from symptoms when following this diet.  For more detailed information on FODMAP-friendly foods, you can refer to specific food lists available online. 

Open Food Facts (OFF) is the world’s largest open food database and a reliable source of nutrition information on packaged goods.  While commercial apps in India maintain private food databases, their proprietary nature and cost often limit transparency. This lack of accessible nutrition awareness makes it harder for people to make healthy, informed choices. That’s why open data sources like those from  Open Food Facts , Indian Nutrient Databank -  INDB (for unprocessed foods), and National Institute of Nutrition ( NIN) play such a vital role for researchers, developers, and consumers alike. Since I began contributing to OFF in 2023 by adding products , editing products to improve data quality  (as much as possible) and visualizing the data , I’ve gained valuable insights into India’s packaged food market and connected with nutrition enthusiasts in India and abroad through OFF’s Slack and personal interactions.  Motivated by growing concerns about U...

The Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI) released a noteworthy report in 2023 analyzing the nutritional quality of 1,901 food and beverage products from 20 large global companies operating in India. The report’s summary concluded: “On balance, it is reasonable to conclude that the average healthiness of the products provided and sold by the largest Indian food companies is sub-optimal.” After reading that, I was curious to explore the NOVA classification of foods sold in India, using data from the Open Food Facts (OFF) India database, which includes nutrition details for over 16,000 packaged products. 📊 Check out How Processed Are Popular Indian Food Brands to see a brand-wise distribution of products by NOVA Group. Currently, the analysis covers 25 brands, but the plan is to gradually expand it to the 3,000+ brands listed in the OFF India database. We place a lot of trust in food brands. But since every one of them also sells ultra-processed foods (UPFs), it’s vital to read label...