A government study comparing household food consumption patterns against the latest nutritional guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has revealed that Indians remain disproportionately dependent on cereals while significantly neglecting other essential food groups, including pulses, vegetables, fruits, milk, and meat.
The study, based on 2022-23 household consumption expenditure data and published in the biannual journal of the Ministry of Statistics, found that cereal intake far exceeds the monthly recommended level of 7.5 kg per person across most states. Barring Kerala and only the urban areas of Punjab and Tamil Nadu, virtually every other state recorded consumption well above this threshold. In rural areas, West Bengal, Odisha, Tripura, and Manipur topped the chart at 11.2 kg per person per month, followed by Bihar at 11.1 kg, Rajasthan at 10.5 kg, and Chhattisgarh at 10.3 kg. In urban areas, Tripura led at 11.2 kg, followed by Manipur at 11.1 kg and Bihar at 10.5 kg. Among Union Territories, Delhi, Puducherry, Chandigarh, and Lakshadweep recorded lower cereal consumption than the recommended norm.
The deficit in vegetable and pulse consumption is equally alarming. People in both urban and rural areas across all states and UTs consume far less vegetables than the recommended 12 kg per person per month, with even the highest-consuming state, Chhattisgarh, recording only 6.7 kg in rural and 8.3 kg in urban areas. Nearly 15 states and UTs recorded monthly vegetable consumption below 5 kg. Pulses consumption also remains critically low, with nearly 28 states and UTs reporting monthly intake of less than 1 kg, well below the prescribed 2.6 kg for vegetarians and 1.7 kg for non-vegetarians, pointing to a severe risk of protein deficiency across the country.
The study also flagged the growing influence of processed foods and eating out as a public health concern. “With more processed foods and food restaurants being available, dining out is becoming a part of the lifestyle for a significant proportion of the population. Medical experts believe that this practice will lead to an enhanced prevalence of non-communicable diseases in the country. Consequently, the productivity of the country will be negatively impacted and burdened due to medical expenditure,” the study noted.
Experts observe that cereal consumption typically declines and protein and fat intake tend to rise as income levels increase, suggesting that dietary diversity improves with economic progress. However, the overall data underscores a persistent and widespread nutritional imbalance that poses a long-term challenge to public health outcomes across India.
