Shifting Eating Patterns: Snackification and the Evolving Role of Front-of-Pack Labelling

Abstract

India’s food environment is undergoing a rapid transformation driven by urbanization, economic growth, and changing lifestyles. These structural shifts are reshaping dietary behaviours across the country. One visible manifestation of this transition is snackification—the increasing consumption of packaged and ready-to-eat snack foods outside traditional meal structures.

Historically, Indian diets centred around structured meals prepared at home using cereals, pulses, vegetables, and minimally processed ingredients. Over the past two decades, however, the rapid expansion of packaged food markets and aggressive marketing by the food industry have gradually altered these dietary patterns. Snack foods are now frequently consumed between meals and sometimes replace conventional meals.

Evidence indicates that consumption of ultra-processed foods globally and in India has grown rapidly. Between 2009 and 2023, global UPF market sales grew from US$1·5 trillion to $1·9 trillion (constant 2023 US dollars and prices), led by rapid UPF sales growth in low-income and middle-income countries (1).

India, with approximately 1.4 billion inhabitants, has experienced unprecedented growth in UPF consumption over the past two decades. Market intelligence data indicate that India’s UPF sector expanded at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.37% between 2011 and 2021, with retail sales increasing from USD 0.9 billion in 2006 to approximately USD 38 billion in 2019 (2; 3). This growth trajectory represents one of the fastest rates globally, reflecting fundamental shifts in food systems, retail infrastructure, and consumer behaviour.