UPF Watch: Comparing Brands on Ultra-Processed Foods

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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 labels carefully, understand the ingredients and nutrition values, and make informed choices.

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