‘Kurkure more easily available than fruits, healthy food options should be pushed,’ says Chief Economic Advisor

S Mahendra Dev, the chairperson of the Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stressed the need for making healthier food options more accessible in the market, as processed foods like Kurkure are more easily available than fruits.

Chief Economic Advisor warns about growing health issues

He warned that if this issue was overlooked, then consumption of processed food items in excess would result in health issues like obesity.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation to understand upcoming changes in inflation and growth, the Chief remarked that the consumption patterns have changed significantly in the last decade.

"Chips and Kurkure are easily available even in rural areas compared to fruits and vegetables," the economic adviser said, stressing the need to ensure that healthier options were made available, especially to working men, women and children.

He explained that this issue required more industry insight so that healthy products were made available to the citizens. Further, he warned that even in rural areas, cereals and fruit share is only 10%, which is down drastically.

Citing official surveys, Mahendra Dev said processed food and beverages accounted for 21% of food consumption even in rural areas, and it would only be upwards of 25% in urban areas.

He added that there is a need to talk with the industry to ensure a better supply of healthier snacking options in the market.

When asked if any policy interventions are planned around this, Dev said that much of the effort will focus on educating people and discussing with the industry.

Working people are dependent on processed food as their schedules do not allow them to cook daily, he said, adding that this is a health problem.

He shared the need for a base revision in critical areas every few years, as the economy evolves through new structural changes.

Who is S. Mahendra Dev?

Prof. S. Mahendra Dev is presently Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM). He was the Director and Vice Chancellor, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR) in Mumbai for 12 years from 2010-2022. Before this position, he was Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, Ministry of Agriculture, from 2008 to 2010.

Dev was Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington, D.C. and also a member of the Board of IFPRI for seven years from 2013 to 2019. He was a member and Acting Chairman of the National Statistical Commission, Government of India.

He got the prestigious Malcolm Adisesaiah Award in 2016. He was Director, Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Hyderabad, India, for 9 years from 1999 to 2008. He is a member of the executive committee of the International Economic Association. Dev did Ph.D. from the Delhi School of Economics and a post-doctoral from Yale University, USA.

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