Fast delivery, faster junk food habits!

“Shantanu Deshpande raised a valid concern about the over-reliance on processed and quick-delivery foods and their impact on public health. While convenience is important, the long-term health implications of consuming low-nutrition, highly processed meals cannot be ignored,” says food and sustainability expert Purvi Shah. “His emphasis on sustainable and nutritious eating is a step in the right direction, but the solution lies in balancing convenience with health awareness and innovation in the food delivery industry.”

Dangers of processed foods

Food consultant and gourmet Karen Anand endorses Deshpande’s views, opining that processed food often contains preservatives, artificial colours and flavours, all of which are definitely unhealthy. “Unfortunately, that’s what many people, especially children, are consuming — things like ramen noodles, which are packed with MSG and artificial additives, or biscuits, which are loaded with palm oil, refined flour and sugar. It’s not just about food delivery; the bigger problem lies in the dominance of packaged, processed food in our diets,” she asserts.
Karen also notes that this is not just India’s problem but a global crisis. “Across the world, people are drawn to junk food. It has little to do with quick delivery; the real issue lies in the sheer number of Quick Service Restaurants everywhere. In every city you visit, these places are quick, cheap, and appealing. Their food is visually attractive, tastes good, and hits all the right notes — cheesy, creamy, and satisfying every taste principle. It’s a global phenomenon, and it’s driven by the same factors everywhere,” she says.

Cosmetic dermatologist and founder of SkinQ, Dr Chytra Anand, mother of an eight-year-old son, agrees with Deshpande’s concerns but also emphasises that food delivery apps are not solely responsible for unhealthy eating habits. “Unhealthy eating is a multi-factorial issue driven by lifestyle choices, marketing influences, lack of awareness and convenience. Parents, schools and the food industry all play a role in shaping our children’s dietary habits. Even homemade food can be nutritionally poor if it lacks balance and variety.” She feels the focus should be on educating families to make informed choices rather than just blaming food delivery services.
Deshpande’s distress over India’s burgeoning health crisis resonates with Anusha Raj, founder of Expertus Management Consultant, who agrees that it is something that needs to be curtailed. “Yes, India is experiencing a growing health crisis, with increasing rates of obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related diseases. To curtail this trend, we need to implement food policies and regulations like restricting marketing of unhealthy foods, impose taxes on sugary drinks, and promote nutrition education by integrating these lifestyle choices into school curricula,” she stresses. We also need to conduct public awareness campaigns to raise awareness,” she adds.