Food away from home and the reversal of the calorie intake decline in India

Deepthi Kolady, Shivendra Kumar Srivastava (), David Just and Jaspal Singh ()
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Shivendra Kumar Srivastava: Scientist (Agricultural Economics) ICAR-National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research
Jaspal Singh: NITI Aayog, Government of India

Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, 2021, vol. 13, issue 2, No 9, 369-384

Abstract: Abstract India experienced a consumption puzzle since the 1970s, whereby households’ calorie intakes declined over time, despite significant economic growth. This declining trend in calorie intake (consumption puzzle) was reversed for the first time in 2011–12. This is the first empirical study that investigates the relationship between refinements in data collection on food away from home (FAFH) and the trend reversal in per capita calorie intake decline in India. Findings from the study showed that the declining trend in calorie intake in India has been partly due to measurement issues and that correcting for these issues through refinements in data collection for FAFH in 2011–12 had a positive effect on the reversal of the calorie intake decline. India uses per capita calorie intake estimated using data from HCES to define the official poverty line, a benchmark used in designing many social welfare programs. Incorrect estimates of calorie intake will have negative implications on the effectiveness of welfare programs aimed at reducing food insecurity. Findings from this study provide insights for further improvement in data collection regarding household-level consumption expenditures. The study has implications not only for India but also for other countries that use household-level consumption data to understand diets and to design food and nutrition programs.

Keywords: Calorie consumption puzzle; Calorie intake; Food insecurity; Household consumption expenditure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1007/s12571-020-01107-x

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