UN Issues Fresh Warning of Widespread Starvation in Gaza
Amid renewed Israeli military operations in Gaza City on Aug. 29, UN aid agencies repeated their warning that the territory is heading toward large-scale famine. A top UN humanitarian official said at least half a million people are already facing the worst levels of food insecurity, and 160,000 more could soon fall into the same category, as hunger and disease rise across the devastated enclave.
For Most Indians, One Veg and One Non-Veg Meal a Day Is Out of Reach
A recent independent study reveals a disconnect between official poverty estimates and the everyday reality of food access for much of the population. The researchers used government data and constructed what they call a “Thali Index,” which suggests that more than half of India’s population cannot afford to eat even one vegetarian and one non-vegetarian meal a day.
Delayed Census Denies Food Security to 120 Million Indians
The delay in population Census has left over 120 million people without access to subsidised foodgrain under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The shortfall, attributed to outdated beneficiary data from the 2011 Census, is pushing millions towards food insecurity, despite the government continuing to operate one of the world’s largest food distribution programmes.
Why Majority of Indians Don’t Have Sufficient, Safe and Nutritious Food
Nearly 74% of Indians could not afford a healthy diet in 2021, according to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023 report. In late 2021 and early 2022, 80% of respondents in a survey conducted by the Right to Food Campaign reported facing food insecurity, with almost half having run out of food the previous month. So, why do the majority of Indians not have sufficient, safe, and nutritious food? In an interview with IndiaSpend, economist Reetika Khera explained some possible reasons.
Why Has Nepal Banned Indian Spice Brands?
Nepal has banned the import and sale of several popular Indian spice brands, citing health concerns over contamination with ethylene oxide (EtO), a chemical linked to cancer. This action follows similar bans imposed by Singapore and Hong Kong, according to Business Today.
EU: Over 400 Indian Food Products Are Contaminated
The European Union has issued a warning about the safety of over 400 Indian food products following an extensive review from 2019 to 2024, according to media reports. These Indian products, earmarked for export, have been found to contain dangerous levels of contaminants, including carcinogens and toxins that pose serious health risks.
Have Indians Been Eating Well?
A detailed analysis of the food and nutrition security situation in India over a decade has found discrepancies between government claims and actual outcomes. “Food Security and Nutrition 2014-24 Report Card” by the Financial Accountability Network India recalls that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has always held that “universal food security” is integral to national security.
India has 6.7 Million ‘Zero-Food’ Children, Study Says
India’s battle with child malnutrition has reached a critical juncture, positioning the country alongside West African nations notorious for high levels of food deprivation among infants. A recent study, drawing on government data, has placed India’s prevalence of so-called “zero-food” children at an alarming 19.3%. Zero-food children are defined as infants or toddlers aged between six months and 24 months who have not consumed any milk or solid or semi-solid food over a 24-hour period.
Is It Right for India to Export Food Amid Domestic Hunger?
India’s agricultural narrative is marked by contradictions between government claims of self-sufficiency and the harsh realities of hunger and farmer distress. The government’s assertion of surplus and self-sufficiency should be examined against the backdrop of India being home to 270 million hungry people, making it the country with the highest number of undernourished individuals globally, says a report by the media outlet DownToEarth.
Madhya Pradesh’s New Meat Ban: A Step Back in Fighting Malnutrition
Madhya Pradesh’s new Chief Minister, Mohan Yadav, has declared a ban on the open sale of meat and eggs, stirring up serious concerns about its effects on public health, especially in a state already battling high malnutrition levels.
Only 24% of Indians Able to Afford Healthy Diet, Report Says
In India, as public discourse predominantly revolves around identity and ideology, crucial issues of significant importance often remain quietly simmering, receiving scant visibility. For instance, a recent UN report reveals that only one quarter of the country’s population can afford a healthy diet, and over 50% of women suffer from anaemia.
India’s Vanishing Groundwater Threatens Our Daily Bread
Imagine turning on your tap one day and nothing comes out. A parched land, dry wells and vanishing rivers may soon be India’s stark reality, says a UN report. Alarm bells are ringing particularly loud for the northwest, India’s “food basket,” where water scarcity could hit home by 2025.
India Has the World’s Highest Child ‘Wasting’ Rate
While India is on a path to rapid economic growth and has a burgeoning technology sector, the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023 report has ranked India 111th among 125 countries in combating hunger and malnutrition. The country has slipped four positions compared to last year, with only 17 nations faring worse, among them Timor-Leste, Afghanistan and Somalia.