The Indian packaged food market registered double-digit constant

value growth in 2016, in line with its performance over 2011-2016

as a whole. Edible oils overtook dairy to become the largest
category in the market in 2016, as hygiene concerns and the
growing interest in products offering health and wellness benefits
drove the rapid shift from unpackaged to packaged oils. Rice,
pasta and noodles was the only category to register faster
constant value growth during the year, as it recovered from the
impact of the controversy surrounding the discovery of MSG and
lead in Nestls market-leading noodles brand, Maggi in 2015.

Packaged foods help in time-management, but experts say they are killing
you slowly

Mornings are a rushed affair and to make life easy, you pour a glass of milk
over the cereal that you picked from the supermarket. So you think you've
had a wholesome meal, right? Not really.

Medical experts say that packaged food even the cereal that you have
been assured is healthy the quick fix for the on-the-go generation is full
of chemicals and, more often than not, 'completely devoid of nutrients'.

While you may argue that you look for the reassuring words on packets
no-trans-fat, no preservatives, no monosodium glutamate (MSG), experts
say that these boxes are full of other hidden ingredients that can pose
serious health problems if consumed in the long-term.

Biscuits
Killer ingredients
Refined wheat flour, sugar, edible vegetable oil, milk solids, invert syrup,
raising agents, salts, emulsifiers, vitamins and dough conditioner
What's hiding?
We already know the toxic effects of refined flour. However, what's scarier
are the high levels of edible vegetable oil in these baked cookies, says
macrobiotic nutritionist Shonali Sabherwal. "Edible vegetable oil is nothing
but fat as its nutrients have been stripped. This loads up the liver, which
reacts to fat that cannot be processed in the body, resulting in a fatty liver
and slowing down your body," she explains. Besides, invert syrup, a mix of
both glucose and fructose creates a sense of being full, and this sugar also
make you crave more sugar so while most products scream no sugar
(they mean white sugar), they still add glucose, fructose, or for diabetics,
chemical sweeteners, which actually have long-term effects. "Milk solids
have also been linked to schizophrenia, autism, depression and multiple
sclerosis (MS)," she adds.

Muesli
Killer ingredients
Invert syrup, strawberry crush (sugar, water, strawberry pulp, thickener),
strawberry syrup, pineapple crush, mango crush, apple juice, concentrate,
liquid glucose, soy lecithin
What's hiding?
The label says there's no added sugar, but the sugar rush you get from the
various syrups added to make this a scrumptious breakfast, is perhaps why
you probably have been hyperactive. If your blood sugar levels are going
awry, blame it on your breakfast cereals. And the extreme sugar rush is not
the only cause of worry.

Most packaged muesli contains soy lecithin, a by-product of the soybean oil
production. Studies suggest some of the common sideeffects of soy lecithin
used to bind the various ingredients together are change in weight
(loss and gain), loss of appetite, occasional nausea, dizziness, vomiting
and confusion. "Besides, if you have been advised by your doctor not to eat
soya, you may just be consuming it unknowingly even in breads," shares
eco-nutritionist Kavita Mukhi.

Ready to eat meal

Dehydrated vegetables, water, edible vegetable oil, cashewnut, salt, sugar,

butter, ginger paste

What's hiding?

Physician and cardiometabolic specialist, at Tardeo's Bhatia Hospital, Dr

Hemant Thacker, says that ready-to-eat meals are full of dehydrated
vegetables which are nutrient-empty. They are only fibre and calories.
Worse, the process of reheating the vegetable kills whatever micronutrients
are left in the food. He adds that it is impossible to preserve food for 12
months if they haven't added any additives or chemicals. "Those additives
may be permissible for that much quantity of food, but if you keep eating it
day in and day out, you are posing great danger to your kidney and liver,"
he says.

Packaged soups

Killer ingredients

Corn flour, edible vegetable oil, thickener, softening agent, sugar, salt,
dehydrated vegetables, dried glucose syrup, edible vegetable fat, yeast
extract powder, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, acidity regulator, flavour
enhancer

What's hiding?
Prepare tomato soup using fresh tomatoes. Do this for a couple of days.
Does the colour turn out the same every day? No. How then do the various
soup manufacturers manage to keep the colour of packet soup uniform? It
is thanks to the colouring agents which are sometimes disguised as 'flavour
enhancers'. Dr Thacker says, "Colouring agents are toxic. They put the liver
and kidney into overdrive, since these organs have to work extra hard to
wash away chemicals from the system and make them safe for the body.
This means that the overworked liver is unable to do its regular job it
handles the nutrients that have been absorbed by the gut from food,
removes toxins from the blood, makes proteins like albumin and clotting
factors, and secretes bile which helps digest fatty foods in particular as
efficiently." That apart, Sabherwal points out, hydrolyzed vegetable protein
contains up to 30 per cent MSG, which is known to trigger headaches,
rapid heart rate, chest pain and cause nausea. "Moreover, yeast extract
powder only increases the bad bacteria (yeast) in the body. This causes
problems with the pH levels and creates acidic blood condition, therefore
decreasing immunity," she says.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/diet/4-packaged-foods-
that-are-killing-you/articleshow/22115686.cms

5 Harmful Effects of Junk Food

We've been warned enough about the downside of too much consumption
of junk food. Theres no doubt that fast foods and processed foods have
increased the burden childhood obesity, heart disease and diabetes and
have made these chronic diseases a common lifestyle concern. Recently,
the Delhi Government demanded a crackdown on junk food that is sold in
schools and within 50 meters of them.
(Chips, Burgers and Cold Drinks to be Banned in Delhi Schools)

In his book, Encyclopedia of Junk Food and Fast Food, Andre F. Smith
defines junk food as, "those commercial products, including candy, bakery
goods, ice cream, salty snacks, and soft drinks, which have little or no
nutritional value but do have plenty of calories, salt, and fats. While not all
fast foods are junk foods, most are. Fast foods are ready-to-eat foods
served promptly after ordering."

Not only do they add inches to your waistline, but scientists and
researchers have also indicated through various studies that junk food can
actually cause serious damage to your brain. The worrying bit is that its not
just years of poor eating, but regular consumption of junk food even for few
days can lead to a mental meltdown.

The more junk food you consume, the less likely you are to consume the
essential nutrients that your body relies on. You know that junk food can
hurt your health, but you may have not known about the effects of junk food
on how your brain functions.

1. It can cause memory and learning problems

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2011
showed that healthy people who ate junk food for only 5 days performed
poorly on cognitive tests that measured attention, speed, and mood. It
concluded that eating junk food for just five days regularly can deteriorate
your memory. This probably stems from the fact that a poor or toxic diet can
cause certain chemical reactions that lead to inflammation in the
hippocampus area of the brain which is associated with memory and
special recognition.

(There are 19 Ingredients in Your McDonald's French Fries!)

Diets that are high in sugar and fat can suppress the activity of a brain
peptide called BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) that helps with
learning and memory formation. Moreover, the brain contains synapses
which are responsible for learning and memory. Eating too many calories
can interfere with the healthy production and functioning of these synapses.

2. Increases the risk of dementia

This has been one of the scariest discoveries associated with the
consumption of junk food. You may know that insulin is produced in the
pancreas and helps in the transportation of glucose to fuel the body. Insulin
is also produced in the brain where it helps in carrying signals between
nerve cells and forming memories. A study conducted at the Brown
University shows that too much fatty food and sweets can substantially
increase the insulin levels in our body.

Just like in the case of Type 2 Diabetes, with higher levels of insulin, the
brain stops responding to this hormone and become resistant to it. This can
restrict our ability to think, recall or create memories, thus increasing the
risk of dementia. Researcher Suzanne de la Monte, M.D., a professor of
pathology, neurology, and neurosurgery at Rhode Island Hospital and the
Alpert Medical School of Brown University was the first to uncover this
association. Following this discovery, most scientists refer to Alzheimers as
a form of diabetes of the brain.

(Shocking Secrets About the Junk Food Industry)

3. Lessens its ability to control appetite

Excess consumption of trans fats found in fried and processed foods can
send mixed signals to the brain which makes it difficult to process what you
have eaten and how hungry are. This is probably why you end up
overeating. Healthy brain functions require a daily dose of essential fatty
acids like omega-6 and omega-3. Deficiency of these two elements
increases the risk of attention deficit disorder, dementia and bipolar
disorder and other brain-related problems.

(The Dark Side of Instant Noodles: What Makes Them Harmful?)

Over consumption of junk food may displace these with trans fats which are
harder to digest. A 2011 study shows that trans fats may cause
inflammation in hypothalamus, the part of brain that containing neurons to
control body weight.

In worst scenarios, the habit of overeating can be similar to drug addiction

to an extent that relying on junk foods may activate the pleasure centres of
the brain greater than receiving drugs.

(Junk Food May Kill Your Appetite for Healthy Food)

4. It can cause chemical changes that can lead to depression
A lot of studies have shown that eating foods high in sugar and fat actually
changes the chemical activity of the brain making it more dependent on
such foods. A study conducted at the University of Montreal on mice
showed that they suffered with withdrawal symptoms after their regular junk
food diet was discontinued. In humans, these withdrawal symptoms can
lead to the inability to deal with stress, make you feel depressed and
eventually you would turn back to those foods to comfort yourself and
handle these feelings. Soon, you may be caught in a vicious cycle even
before you know it. Also, by consuming too much fast food you may lose
out on essential nutrients like amino acid tryptophan, the lack of which can
increase feelings of depression. An imbalance of fatty acids is another
reason why people who consume more junk food are at a higher risk of
depression.

(7 Most Addictive Foods That Are Unhealthy)

5. It makes you impatient and can cause uncontrollable cravings

Eating a sugary cupcake or doughnut may temporarily spike your blood
sugar levels making you feel happy and satisfied but as soon as they return
to normal you are left feeling all the more irritable.

Fast food is packed with refined carbohydrates which cause your blood
sugar levels to fluctuate rapidly. If your sugar levels dip to a very low level,
it can cause anxiety, confusion and fatigue. With high content of sugar and
fats, you tend to eat too fast and too much to satisfy your cravings. This
can inculcate an impatient behaviour while dealing with other things. Fast
foods and processed foods may be laden with artificial flavourings and
preservatives like sodium benzoate that tends to increase hyperactivity

Fast foods are specially designed to be addictive in nature with high levels
of salts, sugars and fats that make you crave them. The addictive nature of
fast food can make your brain crave them even when you are not hungry.

(Yes, You Can Train Your Brain to Hate Junk Food)

http://food.ndtv.com/lists/the-bad-the-worse-5-ways-junk-food-can-mess-with-
your-brain-764392

Packaged food annual spending set to rise 32% by

2017: ASSOCHAM
Thursday, June 04, 2015
Average rate of annual spending on packaged food has increased by 22.5% annually during the years 2010 to
2015 due to rise in income level, standard of living, greater confidence in packaged food, convenience and
influence of western world and the growth is expected to touch around 32% by 2017, according to ASSOCHAM
paper.

The survey highlighted that 76% of parents, mostly both working, with children under five year in the big cities
are serving these easy-to-prepare meals at least 10-12 times per month due to increased pressures at work and
actively looking for ways to simplify and save time.

Releasing the survey, Mr. D S Rawat, Secretary General ASSOCHAM said, the consumption of packaged food is
much higher in the urban areas, especially metros, where life is fast-paced and stressful.

The survey was conducted by the ASSOCHAM Health committee council on Steep rise in packaged food
consumption in India based on responses from 2,200 representative households with or without children,
nuclear families and bachelors.

But there is a word of caution from the medical fraternity. Dr. B K Rao, Chairman of ASSOCHAM Health
Committee Council said, Packaged food usually contains high level of salt, thus leading to rise in blood
pressure. Such items are also high on trans-fats, which are worse than saturated fats as they increase bad
cholesterol and reduce good cholesterol.

Major metropolitan cities in which respondents were interviewed include Mumbai, Cochin, Chennai, Hyderabad,
Indore, Patna, Pune, Delhi, Chandigarh and Dehradun and it was observed that there has been a surprising rise
in the demand of packaged food in the Indian market. This was attributed to changing lifestyle and eating habits.

The majority of the working class also mentioned that its a boon to save time, energy and money by using these
foods. Even the manufacturers prepared the instant foods according to the taste of the consumers.

About 89.5% of the nuclear family feel that they have less free time and have less time to spend in the kitchen. It
is in this background that home delivery business model for cooked food has grown multi-fold.

Nearly 72.6% of bachelors prefer the convenience food because of less cost, time and energy saving,
convenience in preparation and consumption in the busy and hectic life. The very term 'instant means simple,
fast, convenient and affordable food which is easy and fast to prepare besides being hygienic, free from microbial
contamination and also convenient to eat, say the bachelors.

The main categories of packaged food are bakery products, canned/dried processed food, frozen processed
food, ready-to-eat meals, dairy products, diet snacks, processed meat and health products and drinks, points the
survey.

Food manufacturers have also started concentrating on manufacturing new innovative food products and ready
to eat processed food so that it can keep up with the speed of ever changing taste of the consumers.

There has been a major shift in food habits in the metropolitan cities, about 79% of households prefer to have
instant food due to steep rise in dual income level and standard of living and convenience, according to a survey
undertaken by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

The current size of Indian packaged food industry is about $30 billion and likely to touch $50 billion by 2017,
growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 30% annually includes snacks food, ready-to-eat
food, healthy and functional food, said ASSOCHAM.

The paper also points out that there is a large divide between urban, semi-urban and rural consumers in India.
The share of urban residents is about 80% of all packaged food, while semi urban and rural residents consumed
just over 40% and 22% respectively.

Findings of the survey :

Sale of packaged food in 2015
East and Northeast- 21%
North- 28%
South- 21%
West- 30%

The majority of people prefer to purchase:

1) Canned foods classified as:
Canned fruits (56%)
Canned vegetables (46%)
Other canned products (71%)
2) Instant products: These are again classified as:
Instant mixes (75%)
Instant powders (69%)
3) Table relishes: eg. Mayonnaise, ketchups, sauces, jams, jellies, marmalades (88%)
4) Dairy products: milk powders, dairy products like curd, cheese, cream, dairy desserts, (89%)
5) Frozen foods: These are of three types:
Chilled foods (dairy products, eggs, meat) (92%)
Frozen foods (highly perishable foods) (95%)
Freeze dried foods (Coffee, meals for explorers) (85%)
6) Baked products: Biscuits, cookies cakes, breads and various other bakery items. (75%)
7) Snack foods: They are classified as: (65%)
Cereal based
Fried items
8) Beverages: These are divided into (88%)
 Alcoholic drinks (wine, beer)
Non-alcoholic which include soft drinks and health drinks (fruit based and non-fruit based)
9) Pasta foods: Vermicelli, noodles, macaroni, etc., (82%)
10) Weaning foods: Farex, Cerelac, Lactogen (86%)

Key drivers for packaged food market in India are:

Changing demographics: Youth is driving the consumption of the packaged food such as ready meals,
packaged soups, etc.
Increase in income: Rise in disposable income has increased the affordability of buying packaged food
Urbanization: Urbanization has led to increase in nuclear families and also led to more and more
women moving out for work
Growth in organized retail: The penetration of organized retail is expected to 15% by 2016.,
Improvement in packaging: Advancement and development of variety of packaging has led to
increase in shelf life and also satisfying various needs of customers.
Increase in freezer facilities: Cold storage / freezer space plays an important part in growth of
packaged food. Freezer space in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16% during 2008-14 which is expected
to plan an important part in growth of packaged food storage.

http://www.assocham.org/newsdetail.php?id=4992

Children with working mothers are six times more likely to be fat
By Sophie Borland for the Daily Mail
UPDATED: 11:21 GMT, 4 February 2011

Children whose mothers work are six times more likely to be overweight, research shows.
They believe that a diet of fatty ready meals and snacks eaten unsupervised after school is causing them to pile on the pounds.
Scientists claim that the effect is greatest amongst youngsters aged 11 to 12 - so-called 'latch-key children' who let themselves in to the
house while parents are at work.

They are often left to prepare their own dinners which may consist of a high-calorie ready-meal left out in the fridge, as opposed to a
family dinner cooked from scratch.
Unsupervised children may also go to bed later, and lack of sleep has also been linked to higher risk of obesity.
American researchers found that children in the sixth grade aged 11 or 12 whose mothers who were employed either full or part-
time were six times more likely to be overweight.

The study, published in the journal Child Development, looked at 990 youngsters between the ages of eight and 12 and compared their
mothers working hours.

Researchers also looked at the average number of hours children spent watching TV each day and the amount of exercise they took.
They found that the average child whose mother worked tended to be one or two pounds heavier compared to those whose mothers
stayed at home.

Improvising: If the mother is at work children prepare their own food

The effect increased with age, and 11 or 12 year old children carried an average of three or four pounds more than a child of the same
age whose mother didnt work.

But surprisingly the weight gain does not seem to be caused by television-watching or a lack of exercise.

The researchers found that latch-key children spent the same number of hours in front of the television and did similar amounts of
exercise as those of stay-at-home mothers.
Instead, they believe youngsters whose parents work tend to eat fatty ready meals or fast food, rather than healthy dinners cooked from
scratch.
They may also be more likely to skip meals, and instead fill themselves up on chips, chocolate bars or crisps bought on the way home
from school.
According to the latest figures one in three children is now overweight by the time they leave primary school, aged 11.
A fifth are classified as clinically obese, so fat that their health is at risk.
But the team of researchers from the Cornell University and Chicago University and the American University in Washington stress that
working mothers cannot be blamed for growing obesity crisis amongst children.
Taryn Morrissey, from the University of Chicago, said: 'Maternal employment is not the problem here.

If all mothers quit their jobs tomorrow we would still have a crisis.

'It is just one of many factors related to obesity.

'We found that physical activity and time spent watching television didnt explain this link.
'Instead we believe it may be related to nutritional intake.
'Parents who work tend to spend more of their food budget eating out and on fast foods.
'They may also have less regular family meals which have been linked to lower levels of obesity.'