Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TOI
Context: A report jointly released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) highlights a significant and concerning increase in the sales of ultra-processed foods in India over the past decade.
- The study shows that sales of items like chocolate and sugar confectioneries dropped from 10% in 2019 to 1% in 2020 due to the pandemic, but then quickly recovered to 9% in 2021. Similarly, retail sales of salty snacks and beverages reduced from 14% each in 2019 to 9% and 1% in 2021, respectively.
- The report suggests that by 2032, despite a decline in market share, ultra-processed foods such as chocolate, sugar confectioneries, salty snacks, and ready-made food will continue to dominate the market.
About Ultra-processed foods:
Ultra-processed foods are a category of food products that have undergone multiple stages of processing, often involving the addition of various artificial ingredients, such as preservatives, colours, flavours, and additives.
These foods typically contain minimal whole or natural ingredients and are characterized by their convenience, long shelf life, and often addictive taste profiles.
