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A recent series published in The Lancet highlights that India is witnessing the fastest global growth in sales of Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs)from USD 0.9 billion (2006) to nearly USD 38 billion (2019), representing a ~40-fold increase. This rapid dietary transition is strongly associated with rising obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases in the country.

What are Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs)?

• Definition: Industrial formulations designed for convenience, long shelf life, and mass consumption, made largely from manufactured ingredients rather than whole foods.
• Typical Components: Refined starches, protein isolates, added sugars, unhealthy fats, flavour enhancers, colourants, stabilisers, emulsifiers, and preservatives.
• Examples: Soft drinks, chips, chocolates, ice creams, sweetened breakfast cereals, packaged soups, instant noodles, ready-to-heat meals.

Processed vs Ultra-Processed Foods

• Processed foods: Minimally altered (e.g., cooking, fermenting, canning) and retain basic food structure (e.g., pickles, jam, cheese).
• Ultra-processed foods: Contain industrial additives; the presence of emulsifiers or artificial flavours classifies a product as UPF.

Why is UPF Consumption Rising in India?

• Aggressive Marketing: Celebrity endorsements, sports sponsorships, targeted ads (especially for children), discount offers.
• Lifestyle Changes:Urbanisation, time constraints, and preference for ready-to-eat foods.
• Dietary Transition: Shift towards Western-style diets rich in fast foods and sugary snacks.
• Perceived Convenience: Seen as time-saving substitutes for traditional meals.

Health and Nutrition Impacts

• Poor Nutritional Quality: UPFs are high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) but low in fibre and micronutrients.
• Disease Burden: Linked to higher risks of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, kidney and gastrointestinal disorders, mental health issues, and premature mortality.
• India-Specific Risk: Genetic predisposition to visceral obesity and metabolic disorders amplifies harms.
• Children at High Risk: Childhood obesity increased from 2.1% to 3.4% (NFHS 2016 → 2019–21). Long-term effects include addictive eating behaviours, gut microbiome imbalance, impaired brain development, and early-onset diabetes.

Regulatory and Awareness Gaps

• Weak Regulation: Heavy reliance on self-regulation; absence of mandatory front-of-pack (FOP) warning labels.
• Misleading Packaging: Health claims (e.g., “high protein”) obscure high sugar, salt, or fat content.
• Identification Challenge: Public confusion between processed foods and UPFs.
• The Economic Survey 2024–25 underlines the need for stronger regulatory action.

Existing Indian Initiatives for Healthy Diets

• Eat Right India Movement
• State Food Safety Index
• RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil)
• Food Safety Mitra
• World Food Safety Day observances

What Measures are Needed?

• Stronger Regulations:
  • Mandatory FOP warning labels (“High in Sugar/Salt/Fats”).
  • Restrictions on marketing to children.
• Healthy Food Environments:
  • UPF-free school canteens; promotion of minimally processed foods (Brazilian model).
  • Increased availability of healthy alternatives in public spaces.
• Public Awareness Campaigns:
  • Avoid foods with >10% sugar or fat; sodium >1 mg/kcal.
  • Prefer whole foods like fruits, vegetables, milk, nuts.
• Monitoring & Research:
  • Measure UPF share in diets (especially children and youth).
  • Identify consumption patterns to support targeted regulation.
• Global & National Coordination:
  • Align with forthcoming World Health Organization guidelines on UPFs.
  • Involve FSSAI, health and education sectors, industry, and civil society.

WHO Recommendation: Free sugar intake should be <10% of daily energy, ideally <5% (~25 g/day).