NewKerala.com

India's Protein Crisis: Why Half Our Diet is Low-Quality Cereals

A new study reveals a worrying trend in the Indian diet. Nearly half of our daily protein intake comes from cereals, which are considered low-quality sources. The research also points to a massive gap in nutritious food consumption between the rich and the poor. Experts are calling for urgent reforms to public food programs to address this nutritional crisis.

Key Points: Study Reveals Poor Quality Protein in Indian Diets from Cereals

  • Indians consume adequate protein but half comes from low-digestibility cereals
  • Study reveals stark inequality in milk and fruit consumption between rich and poor
  • Consumption of coarse grains like jowar and bajra has dropped nearly 40% in a decade
  • The proportion of households over-consuming fat has more than doubled in the last decade
3 min read

Indians getting poor quality protein, nearly 50 pc is from cereals: Study

A new study finds nearly 50% of India's protein comes from low-quality cereals, highlighting nutritional gaps and over-reliance on subsidized grains.

"This study spotlights a silent crisis in India's food system: over-reliance on low-quality proteins, excess calories from cereals and oils, and stark under-consumption of diverse, nutrient-rich foods. - Apoorve Khandelwal, CEEW"

New Delhi, Dec 10

Nearly half of India’s at-home protein intake now comes from cereals such as rice, wheat, suji, and maida, according to a study on Wednesday.

Protein supports the body’s growth, repair, and immune function, and Indians consume an adequate average of 55.6 g of protein per day at home.

However, the study by non-profit policy research think tank the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) showed that cereals supply nearly 50 per cent of this protein despite their low-quality amino acid profile and poor digestibility.

The study also found under-consumption across major food groups, such as vegetables, fruits, and pulses, and overuse in cooking oil, salt, and sugar intake.

“This study spotlights a silent crisis in India's food system: over-reliance on low-quality proteins, excess calories from cereals and oils, and stark under-consumption of diverse, nutrient-rich foods,” said Apoorve Khandelwal, Fellow, CEEW.

“In a week, a person in the poorest decile consumes just 2-3 glasses of milk and fruits equivalent to just 2 bananas, compared to 8-9 glasses and 8-10 bananas for those in the richest decile. These consumption gaps mirror broader inequities in access to balanced diets. At the same time, the country's heavy dependence on a narrow crop base for nutrition and income reduces its climate resilience. Diversification, from fork to farm, must be a national priority,” she added.

The study analyses Indian dietary trends based on the latest 2023-24 NSSO Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) dataset.

It showed that India’s diet remains heavily skewed toward cereals and cooking oils, with both contributing to significant nutritional imbalance.

Nearly three-fourths of all carbohydrates come from cereals, and direct cereal intake continues to be 1.5 times the RDA, reinforced by the widespread availability of subsidised rice and wheat through the PDS in lower-expenditure deciles.

Notably, coarse grains such as jowar, bajra, and ragi have seen the steepest at-home decline -- nearly a 40 per cent drop in per capita consumption in a decade -- resulting in Indians meeting barely 15 per cent of the recommended intake.

“At the same time, the proportion of households consuming more than 1.5 times the recommended fat intake has more than doubled in the last decade, with higher-expenditure households consuming almost twice as much fat as lower-expenditure groups,” the study showed.

The study recommended reforming major public food programmes --including the PDS, PM POSHAN, and Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0 -- to shift away from cereal-dominant provisioning and expand access to coarse grains, pulses, milk, eggs, fruits, and vegetables.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The PDS giving only rice and wheat is a big part of the problem. Why can't they include millets (jowar, bajra) or pulses in the ration? That would improve nutrition for crores of people overnight. 🍚→🌾
A
Arjun K
The gap between richest and poorest is heartbreaking. 2 bananas vs 10? This isn't just about food, it's about basic inequality. We need policies that make fruits, milk, and vegetables affordable for all.
S
Sarah B
As someone who moved here, I notice the heavy reliance on carbs. But also, the traditional wisdom of including diverse foods like sprouts, buttermilk, and leafy greens is getting lost. Time to go back to our roots.
V
Vikram M
Cost is the main issue. A kilo of apples costs more than a kilo of rice that feeds a family for days. Until healthy food is as cheap and accessible as cereals, this won't change.
K
Karthik V
While the study highlights real issues, I respectfully disagree that all cereal protein is "poor quality". Combining dal and rice makes a complete protein. The problem is the *proportion* – too much cereal, too little dal.
M
Michael C
The decline of

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50