Indians spending less on food, says national survey

Indians are eating badly; and the trend is getting worse each year. Data from the 68th round of the National Sample Survey (NSS) shows that the share of food in total expenditure has reduced both in rural and urban areas. This is despite the fact that food is getting progressively more expensive.

Spending more on unhealthy foods

Amongst the 14 food groups considered by the NSS, the share of beverages, refreshments and processed foods in total consumer expenditure in rural areas has increased from 4.2 per cent to 5.8 between 1993-94 and 2011-12. In urban areas, it has decreased marginally from 7.2 to 7.1 per cent. But urban Indians need not rejoice as between 2010-11 and 2011-12, the share of these products in total consumer expenditure increased from 6.3 to 7.1 per cent. This category includes tea, coffee, mineral water, soft drinks, fruit juice and soda water. Products such as cocoa, biscuits, cakes, pastries, pickles, sauce, jam, jelly and salted foods are also included. These foods are high in sugar, salt and fats, which have adverse health effects such as chronic diseases.

Consumer expenditure on different types of food (in percentage)
	Rural		Urban
	1993- 94	2011-12	1993-94	2011-12
Cereals Gram Cereal substitutes Pulses & products Milk & products Edible oil Egg, fish & meat Vegetables Fruits & nuts Sugar Salt & spices Beverages Food in total	24.2 0.2 0.1 3.8 9.5 4.4 3.3 6.0 1.7 3.1 2.7 4.2 63.2	12.0 0.2 0.1 3.1 9.1 3.8 3.6 4.8 1.9 1.8 2.4 5.8 48.6	14.0 0.2 0.1 3.0 9.8 4.4 3.4 5.5 2.7 2.4 2.0 7.2 54.7	.3 0.1 0.1 2.1 7.8 2.7 2.8 3.4 2.3 1.2 1.7 7.1 38.5

Food scores less all round

The data shows that the all-India estimate of average monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) on food was around Rs 1,430 for rural India and about Rs 2,630 for urban India. For the average rural Indian, food accounted for 52.9 per cent of the total consumption during 2011-12. This included 10.8 per cent for cereals and cereal substitutes, 8 per cent for milk and milk products, 7.9 per cent for beverages, refreshments and processed food, and 6.6 per cent for vegetables. For the average urban Indian, 42.6 per cent of the value of household consumption was  accounted for by food, including 9 per cent by beverages, refreshments and processed food,  7 per cent by milk and milk products, and 6.7 per cent by cereals and cereal substitutes.

The National Sample Survey carried out by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has provided data on consumption patterns in India for the ninth time. National sample surveys have been on in the country since 1972. The study was carried out in 7,469 villages in rural areas and 5,268 urban blocks spread over all states and Union Territories, except in interior villages of Nagaland and inaccessible villages in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
 

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