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  5. Availability, healthiness, and price of packaged and unpackaged foods in India: a cross-sectional study
 
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Availability, healthiness, and price of packaged and unpackaged foods in India: a cross-sectional study
File(s)
Availability, healthiness, and price of packaged and unpackaged foods in India_ A cross-sectional study.pdf (347.7 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Dunford, Elizabeth K
Farrand, Clare
Huffman, Mark D
Raj, Thout Sudhir
Shahid, Maria
more
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background: Vulnerable populations are the most prone to diet-related disease. The availability, healthiness, and price of foods have established associations with diet-related disease in communities. However, data describing this in India are sparse, particularly in urban slums and rural areas. Aim: To quantify and compare availability, healthiness, and price of packaged and unpackaged foods and beverages in India, and to identify opportunities to improve diets and health of vulnerable populations. Methods: Nutrition data and price were collected on foods and beverages available at 44 stores in urban, urban slum, and rural areas in four states in India between May and August 2018. Healthiness was assessed using the Australasian Health Star Rating system and product retail prices were examined. Comparisons in the findings were made across state, community area type, and adherence to current and draft Indian food labeling regulations. Results: Packaged foods and beverages (n = 1443, 89%) were more prevalent than unpackaged (n = 172, 11%). Unpackaged products were healthier than packaged (mean Health Star Rating = 3.5 vs 2.0; p < 0.001) and lower in price (median price per 100 g/ml: 13.42 Indian rupees vs 25.70 Indian rupees; p < 0.001), a pattern observed across most community area types and states. 96% of packaged products were compliant with current Indian labeling regulations but only 23% were compliant with proposed labeling regulations. Conclusions: Unpackaged products were on average much healthier and lower in price than packaged foods and beverages. Food policies that support greater availability, accessibility and consumption of unpackaged foods, while limiting consumption of packaged foods, have enormous potential for sustaining the health of the Indian population.
Date Issued
2022-12-01
Date Acceptance
2021-07-27
Citation
Nutrition and Health, 2022, 28 (4), pp.571-579
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/94089
URL
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02601060211039124
DOI
https://www.dx.doi.org/10.1177/02601060211039124
ISSN
0260-1060
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Start Page
571
End Page
579
Journal / Book Title
Nutrition and Health
Volume
28
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2021. The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in Dunford EK, Farrand C, Huffman MD, et al. Availability, healthiness, and price of packaged and unpackaged foods in India: A cross-sectional study. Nutrition and Health. December 2021 by Sage Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. It is available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/02601060211039124
Identifier
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02601060211039124
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-12-21
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