Shifts in Food Consumption Practices among Middle-Class Households in Bengaluru, India
-
Published:2022-10-20
Issue:20
Volume:14
Page:13557
-
ISSN:2071-1050
-
Container-title:Sustainability
-
language:en
-
Short-container-title:Sustainability
Author:
Yousefian NedaORCID,
Wenninger Elena,
Dittrich ChristophORCID
Abstract
The middle class in India is estimated to be roughly half of the population and, as such, holds considerable sway in influencing consumption trends. We explored food consumption practices and indicators for food transitions among middle-class households in the South Indian megacity of Bengaluru. Through 38 qualitative interviews, we asked respondents about their perceptions of food safety and how they navigate food safety risks in their daily food practices. The COVID-19 pandemic brought the topic of food safety into sharp relief, and consumers were keen on maintaining good health through food consumption. We engaged social practice theory to understand food shopping practices, the rise in immune-boosting foods and the consumer demand for safe, healthy food as this relates to wider sustainable food transitions. We found that middle-class consumers mitigate food safety risks through careful selection of where food is purchased. A rise in immune-boosting foods, traditional herbs and spices part of the regional diet are being revitalized. Demand for organically grown foods is hampered by a lack of trust in verification systems. We argued that government investment in building consumer confidence in both food safety, and organic labeling increases the willingness to pay a premium price among middle-class consumers.
Funder
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Subject
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment,Geography, Planning and Development,Building and Construction
Reference78 articles.
1. #IndiaFightsCorona COVID-19, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology
https://www.mygov.in/covid-19
2. Three New Estimates of India’s All-Cause Excess Mortality during the COVID-19 Pandemic
https://www.cgdev.org/publication/three-new-estimates-indias-all-cause-excess-mortality-during-covid-19-pandemic
3. The Changing Food Scenario and the Middle Classes in the Emerging Megacity of Hyderabad, India;Dittrich,2009
4. Conceptualizing food systems for global environmental change research
5. Theories of practice and sustainable consumption;Welch,2015