Mapping ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in India: a formative research study.

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Public Health Nutrition
• Consumer Behavior

Background:

• Increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is associated with diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
• India lacks standard criteria for identifying UPFs based on industrial processing.
• Existing dietary assessments classify foods by nutrient content, not processing level, hindering UPF identification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map ultra-processed foods (UPFs) available in the Indian market.
• To scrutinize ingredient lists for ultra-processed components.
• To develop categories and understand consumer preferences for UPFs to inform a UPF screener.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and online grocery retailer scan of food labels.
• Identification and categorization of UPFs based on ingredient analysis.
• Saliency analysis to determine consumer preferences for different UPF categories.

Main Results:

• A uniform definition for UPFs is lacking in India, with terms like 'junk food' and 'packaged food' used interchangeably.
• An online scan identified 81 UPF items across 23 categories, including packaged traditional recipes.
• Breads, chips, and sugar-sweetened beverages were the most preferred UPFs, while frozen ready-to-eat/cook items were least preferred.

Conclusions:

• India requires a systematic food classification system based on industrial processing levels.
• Mapping UPFs is crucial for developing a screener to collect consumption data.
• This data can inform policy and regulations to address the impact of UPFs on NCDs.