Context:

• The recently released Household Consumer Expenditure Survey (HCES) data for 2022-23 by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme implementation points to a shift in the food consumption pattern of Indian households. 
• The good news is that for the first time the share of expenditure on food for rural households has come down to less than 50 per cent.
• The average monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) was Rs 3,773 for rural and Rs 6,459 for urban households. The percentage share of food and non-food items was 46 per cent and 54 per cent for rural and 39 per cent and 61 per cent for urban areas, respectively. 

Shift in Consumption pattern:

• Drastic Decrease spending on cereals: The percentage share of expenditure on cereals(as a percentage of overall expenditure) stood at 22 percent for rural and 12 percent for urban areas in 1999-2000 while the present data shows it to be at 4.9 percent and 3.6 percent respectively.
• Considerable Increase in Processed food consumption: Beverages, refreshments and processed foods have a share of expenditure at 9.6 percent and 10.6 percent respectively for rural and urban areas. 
  • Processed foods, known for high sugar and salt content, are not a healthy choice. This is a new development and it is striking that the proportion of processed food consumed in rural and urban areas is very similar. 
• Increased spending on Milk products: Milk and milk products at 8.3 percent and 7.2 percent respectively for rural and urban areas have 
• Drop in spending for Pulses: The consumption of pulses is the lowest with the average MPCE being 2 per cent and 1.4 per cent for rural and urban respectively. The cultivation of pulses has declined substantially with a corresponding increase in cost, which could have led to a decline in consumption levels. 
• Drop in expenditure for Vegetables and small rise in expenditure on meat and fish. Share of expenditure on fruits and edible oil is almost the same and there is practically no difference between rural and urban consumers. Sugar and salt account for less than 1 per cent of the total share of expenses on food.

Idea of Nutritional literacy:

• Nutritional literacy refers to the knowledge, understanding, and skills individuals possess regarding nutrition and dietary practices. 
• It encompasses a range of competencies related to making informed food choices, understanding nutritional information, and adopting healthy eating habits.

Need for Nutritional Literacy:

• Promotion of Healthier Dietary Choices: Nutritional literacy equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their diet. With a better understanding of nutrition, people are more likely to choose nutrient-dense foods over unhealthy options, leading to improved overall health and well-being.
• Prevention of Diet-Related Diseases: Many chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers, are closely linked to dietary factors. Nutritional literacy helps individuals recognize the impact of diet on health outcomes and empowers them to adopt dietary habits that reduce the risk of developing these conditions.
• Management of Weight and Body Composition: Nutritional literacy enables individuals to make choices that support weight loss, weight maintenance, or muscle gain, depending on their goals and needs.
• Improved Public Health Outcomes: By promoting nutritional literacy across communities, public health initiatives can achieve broader population-level health improvements, like  reducing the prevalence of malnutrition and  micronutrient deficiencies.
• Empowerment and Personal Responsibility: By understanding the nutritional content of foods, interpreting food labels, and critically evaluating dietary information, individuals can take proactive steps towards optimising their health and well-being. This sense of personal responsibility fosters a positive attitude towards health and personality.

These points show the importance of nutritional literacy among the Indian population. The time is ripe to take measures like Front-of-pack food labelling indicating high salt, fat or sugar content, Tax on High fat, sugar and salt(HFSS) foods,- etc. A study commissioned by the Niti Aayog recommended a 20 percent to 30 percent health tax in addition to GST on high fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) foods.