What underlies inadequate and unequal fruit and vegetable consumption in India? An exploratory analysis

Main author: Choudhury, Samira
Other authors: Shankar, Bhavani
Aleksandrowicz, Lukasz
Tak, Mehroosh
Green, Rosemary
Harris, Francesca
Scheelbeek, Pauline
Dangour, Alan D.
Format: Journal Article           
Online access: Click here to view record


Summary: Adequate consumption of fruit and vegetables is key to improved diet-related health in India. We analyse fruit and vegetable consumption in the Indian population using National Sample Survey data. A series of regressions is estimated to characterise the distribution of household fruit and vegetable consumption and explore key socio-economic and food system drivers of consumption. Household income and price are important correlates, but consumption is also higher where households are headed by females, are rural, or involve agricultural livelihoods. Caste is an important source of inequality, particularly amongst those with low consumption, with Scheduled Tribes consuming less F&V than others. We also find preliminary evidence that formal agricultural market infrastructure is positively associated with fruit and vegetable consumption in India.
Other authors: Shankar, Bhavani, Aleksandrowicz, Lukasz, Tak, Mehroosh, Green, Rosemary, Harris, Francesca, Scheelbeek, Pauline, Dangour, Alan D.
Language: English
Published: Elsevier 2020