Food Labelling - facts unknown!!!!

 

Women are the rulers of the kitchen as they are the sole preparer of meals in the household. Women’s personal and professional advancements have grown significantly in recent decades but the time spent grocery shopping has not decreased. They are frequent store brands and retail purchasers. India’s impressive economic growth over the past two decades in recent years has resulted in per capita income steadily increasing in real terms as well as at market prices both in urban and rural areas. During the most recent decade, globalization has played an important role in the transformation of the food consumption patterns of Indian households. Rapidly changing diets and lifestyles are fueling the global obesity epidemic (WHO, 2003). Once considered a problem related to affluence, obesity is now fast growing in many developing countries and in poor neighborhoods of the developed countries (WHO, 2003; WHO, IASO, & IOTF, 2000). It would be interesting to see how the change in the nature of food consumption patterns has affected the nutrient intake in the Indian diet as the process of diet transformation has far-reaching consequences for public health(NFSM, 2016). While an increase in the consumption of milk, animal protein, and fruits and vegetables could result in reduced incidence of malnutrition, increased consumption of highly calorific and fatty food could lead to increased incidence obesity and of diet-related diseases, like diabetes, coronary heart disease(NFSM, 2016).

In the modern days, where life is at a fast pace with time is very valuable to every person, “Ready to eat foods” play an important role in everyone’s day-to-day life. The term “Ready to eat foods” means simple, fast, and convenient food, which is easy and fast to prepare besides being hygienic, free from microbial contamination, and also convenient to eat. Unlike older days where a man used to have his food lavishly and slowly, the present trend changed the habits to Ready to eat food. Hence the existence of these foods fulfilled all the needs of modern human beings. Preparing food with instant mixes has become a way of life and no doubt they are going to be an integral part of food habit in future. The food habits in India have changed due to the western influence and the usage of these foods is also on the rise. These foods are widely used in catering industries as well as at home. There are varieties of ready-to-eat foods available in the market to choose from and they have become a part of everyday life. It is a food revolution that’s been a long time coming. Readymade foods are very useful to many people in various situations. In fact, the safe and useful method of storing, packing, and consuming these foods is helpful for those who are working as they do not need to worry about making food. Similarly, it is easy for people to carry these packed ready-made foods while they travel as it is easy for them to eat on the move. (Thakkar, 2010)