August 4, 2025

In recent years, Indian packaged food companies have been at the forefront of a health revolution, influenced by growing consumer awareness and the 'Eat Right Movement' initiated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Notable brands such as Britannia, Nestle, Tata Consumer Products, and Marico are significantly reformulating their products to reduce sugar, sodium, and fat content, while incorporating wholegrains, millets, and essential nutrients, reflecting a broader shift in consumer preferences towards healthier food options. As highlighted by Varun Beverages, which is PepsiCo's lead bottler, more than half of colas sold in India are now low or sugar-free. This booming trend in the beverage sector is prompting packaged food companies to adapt or risk falling behind. Despite low-sugar and sugar-free products not dominating sales yet, they are gaining momentum, largely due to heightened consumer demand for healthier alternatives. Britannia Industries, for instance, has made significant strides, increasing the wholegrain content in its products by over 350% between 2018-19 and 2024-25, while reducing sugar levels by 3.4% and sodium levels by 11.9%. Nestle India has also responded to these shifting sentiments, cutting sugar content by 6%, salt by 10%, and total fat by 2.5%. Following public criticism regarding the sugar levels in their baby food product Cerelac, the company has introduced new variants with no refined sugar. Shashwat Goenka, vice-chairman of the RPSanjiv Goenka Group, which owns well-known food retail chains such as Nature’s Basket and Spencer’s Retail, stated, "While taste has historically trumped health, consumers now want both nourishment and delight." This sentiment reflects the evolving consumer landscape with health-consciousness taking precedence. Goenka emphasized that this trend isn't merely a fad but a significant movement across all food sectors, addressing consumer wellness goals without compromising on taste and pleasure. Tata Consumer Products has also taken steps to cater to this health movement by reducing added sugar in its ready-to-drink beverages by 30%, with further reductions planned. The company has reported a significant reduction of 2,900 tonnes of sugar in the last two years, with health-focused offerings making up 29% of its total products in FY25. Marico has joined this trend actively, decreasing sodium levels by 20% in main products, such as oats and millets under its Saffola brand. The company is enriching its edible oils with fat-soluble vitamins and incorporating health-promoting ingredients such as oats, soya, millets, and nuts in its product lineup to combat prevalent diseases and promote overall immunity. The drive toward healthier products is further fueled by increasing consumer awareness and criticism surrounding unhealthy packaged food on social media. ITC has stated its commitment to reducing sugar, salt, and fat while enhancing the nutritional value of its products with beneficial vitamins, minerals, and fiber, aiming to strike a balance between health and taste satisfaction. The alcohol beverage segment isn't being overlooked in this health shift either. United Breweries, known as India’s largest beer producer, recently launched Amstel Grande, which contains no added sugar. Moreover, low-calorie and alcohol-free options are starting to gain traction, especially among younger consumers in urban areas. Rohit Pillai from Bira91 remarked on the promising potential within the low-calorie alcobev segment, highlighting that interests in healthier alcohol choices are on the rise. Aditya Aggarwal, founder of Sober Zero Proof Spirits, noted that zero-spirit whiskey is driving the largest sales contributions in the non-alcoholic beverage market. However, some industry leaders like Manoj Verma from Bikaji Foods have cautioned against labeling foods as 'healthy,' suggesting instead a term like 'less unhealthy' to describe the evolving snack market, which still has a way to go in achieving mainstream appeal. In conclusion, the shift in the packaged food industry towards healthier products reflects a critical response to consumer demands and health consciousness. With major companies aggressively reformulating their product offerings, the trend suggests a promising future for health-focused innovations that cater to the evolving needs and preferences of the modern consumer.

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Tags: Health movement, Packaged food, Sugar reduction, Low-calorie beverages, Food companies,