Elsa Angel Rose
Imagine the lowest price possible, imagine the prettiest packet possible; these packets come with a variety of delicious eatables in the form of differently shaped biscuits, chips, cookies, and more in it. And to add more joy to its loyal consumers, these are hardly ever overpriced, say, rupees 5, 10, or a maximum of 50 to 100 bucks. But these delicious treats definitely make us pay in another way, mostly through our health. So how do these cheap and tasty snacks make us pay? An IFSI-certified nutritionist, Sachin Sutar, based in Velha, explained, “Most low-priced chips, biscuits, or instant namkeens are typically high in refined carbohydrates, sugars, and unhealthy fats, and they lack essential nutrients like quality protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. They rarely provide significant amounts of calcium, iron, vitamin C, or antioxidants, which are crucial for overall health.” So if we regularly consume these low-priced foods, it increases our chances of having a weak immune system, developing lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes, or heart diseases and many more. Reiterating that we will definitely pay more for the cheap and yummy snacks, if not immediately. Luana Mascarenhas, an accredited dietician from Panjim, explained, “Instead of butter, low-grade emulsifiers or hydrogenated fats are often used. Other ingredients typically include refined flour, low-quality oils such as palm oil, and high amounts of sugar and salt, along with artificial flavours designed to mimic natural foods. These create the illusion that natural ingredients are present when they are not. So while the product may cost less, it also delivers significantly less nutritional value.”
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If you notice, most times, the quantity in which these cheap snacks come is impressive. An enormous bag full of chips (Plus the mandatory air), a huge box of toffees, biscuits and the like. Stating the obvious, these snacks are cheap so that owners can reduce their cost of production, and we can increase our cost of living. Regardless of increase or decrease, the profit earning is forever. Sachin shared his thoughts on the same, “These snacks are made mainly from inexpensive ingredients like refined flour, sugar, and oils, which can be mass-produced at very low cost. Manufacturers often add artificial flavours, preservatives, and low-quality additives to enhance taste and shelf life, making the product look plentiful and appealing while providing little nutritional value.” He further added, “Essentially, as long as the snack looks good and tastes appealing, very little scrutiny is applied to its quality or health impact.”
Everyone is leading a fast life, balancing work with personal life. The time spent on meal prep and cooking healthy meals is reduced to zero. Packaged food products, unfortunately, look ideal to anyone who leads a busy life. Sheryl explained, “There is a very strong connection between the convenient food choice and long-term health. These choices, unfortunately, become habits that are very difficult to break or change when medical verdicts are pronounced upon us.” Sheryl added, “Exhaustion and the need for relaxation after long work hours, availability and access to food apps are all responsible for our deteriorating food choices.” If you feel like snacking, then there are a lot of healthy options: “Nuts, dry fruits, fresh fruits, breakfast leftovers, pancakes, sandwiches, Chillas, yoghurt and more,” Sheryl shared.
“Refined flour, sugar, and palm oil are cheaper because they are produced on an industrial scale, have long shelf lives, and require less labour intensive cultivation and handling compared to fresh produce or pulses. Fruits and pulses are perishable, often seasonal, and demand more careful farming, storage, and transportation, which drives up their cost,” said Sachin. Another key point to keep in mind is that global subsidies on sugar, wheat, and palm oil in many countries further reduce their market price, making processed snacks economically more attractive than healthier alternatives, despite their lower nutritional value. Sheryl Afonso, another nutritionist, shared, “Well, the amount of content in cheap packaged items is not equivalent to the nutritional value required from the snack for any age group. Yes, it is cheaper because the ingredients required for preparation are relatively cheaper and easily sourced; the preparation method isn’t tedious either. “Nutrition education is at the forefront of empowering consumers to make wel -informed decisions on products in the market. Consumers need to increase their literacy on reading nutrition labels and ingredients in products, in contrast to blindly trusting the health claims on the front of the packets,” shared Luana. Further understanding the role of each nutrient in the body and its requirements can also help. Luana explained, “Lack of health education and nutrition label reading are reasons consumers end up choosing such products. While the cost is a motivator, if consumers were well informed and not misled with bold nutrition or health claims and misleading advertising, they would definitely exercise caution before purchasing such products” Behind the attractive packaging, low prices, and appealing flavours lies a reality of poor nutrition and long-term health risks. While modern lifestyles and economic factors make these products easily accessible and tempting, they also encourage habits that have long-term detrimental impacts. Ultimately, the solution lies in greater nutrition literacy and a shift in perspectives.
