Nutritional values of ready-to-eat snacks available in the Indian E-market—a comparative study based on the health star rating system

Abstract

Abstract Background The popularity of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods has increased globally, especially among children, because they are readily available, convenient, tasty, and have attractive packaging designs. The number of packaged foods, drinks, and snacks has risen in the Indian market, and the presence of less-healthy packaged products is a significant cause of overweight and diseases related to diet. The Health Star Rating (HSR) System, initiated by the Australian and New Zealand governments, was designed to rank these packaged products based on fat, sugar, energy, salt, and other nutritional compositions. The study assessed the nutritional value of RTE snacks currently available in the Indian e-market using the HSR system. Methods This comparative study analyzed the nutritional values of RTE snacks from November 2022 to February 2023. The data  were extracted from the Indian e-market, namely Amazon Fresh, Flipkart Grocery, and Big Basket, using specific keywords. The HSR system has been used to evaluate and compare the healthiness of RTE snacks, using a star rating scale of 0.5 stars = bad to 5 stars = excellent. The study assessed 294 RTE products, including chips, cocoa-based snacks, and baked snacks, with a price range of INR 50 and below. Results The findings revealed that the mean HSR was low (1.46) stars [SD 0.63] out of (5) stars for the studied products, with significant concerns about high levels of energy, sugar, sodium, and saturated fat. Additionally, the study observed a limited utilization of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes (FVNL) in the market products. Conclusion The study highlights the unhealthiness of snack products available in the Indian e-market due to high levels of sugar, salt, and fat. These snacks also lack FVNL as nutritious ingredients. The data extracted can underscore public health concerns, highlight the importance of consumer awareness, and help snack manufacturers develop healthier snacks for society.