Shantanu Deshpande warns about the dangers of India’s growing quick food delivery
Shantanu Deshpande, the founder and CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, has expressed his concerns about the surge in fast food delivery services in India. In his recent LinkedIn post, he highlighted the negative health implications of consuming processed and unhealthy foods, which are often delivered quickly through platforms like Zomato and Swiggy. Deshpande pointed out that the increasing reliance on these fast-food options, including meals made with frozen purees, reheated curries, and old vegetables, is detrimental to public health.
Deshpande stressed that while food delivery services prioritize speed, the quality and nutritional value of the meals are compromised. This trend of delivering food within minutes, sometimes in as little as eight minutes, has raised alarm bells, especially as it leads to the use of unhealthy cooking methods and ingredients. The CEO believes that the over-reliance on cheap processed foods, such as ₹49 pizzas and ₹30 burgers, could lead India down the same path as countries like the U.S. and China, where junk food consumption is rampant and has led to serious health issues.
While Deshpande acknowledged the importance of innovation in the food sector, he urged food delivery services to focus on providing meals that are not just quick but also nutritious and tasty. He emphasized that food companies should prioritize quality over speed to avoid contributing to India’s growing junk food addiction, which poses a significant health risk to the country’s population.
Deshpande also suggested that individuals should take responsibility for their health by cooking at home. He encouraged people to make healthier meals, even simple ones like dal chawal or smoothies, rather than relying on quick delivery services. His post sparked widespread debate on social media, with many agreeing that the overdependence on fast food delivery could result in long-term health consequences if left unchecked.
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