Why India needs more Responsible Companies and Food Mavericks - By Aneeta Myint

When the goal is noble, the means are justified. And when that goal is to manufacture 100% natural food that nourishes and enhances the lives of all, you need a Food Maverick to lead the way! Even Top Gun Maverick literally stole an F18 fighter and flew it against all norms to prove that man will always rule the machines!

Today, the food industry needs such Mavericks – chefs themselves who firmly believe in 100% natural products. These intelligent rebels challenge the might of companies that sell chemically-laden and artificially flavored veg and non-veg Ready-to-Eat (RTE) items to gullible retail and commercialized B2B businesses. Companies that add thickeners, flavor enhancers, and approved chemicals. Companies that add wheat flakes, soya, and coloring agents like INS 250, and after all such cheap bulking and artificial taste enhancers, then sell sausages at Rs 240/Kg – a price lower than even raw boneless chicken!

India needs responsible companies, not just food companies whose only goal is to make margins at the cost of our health. The companies will argue, well, then how do we make the products viable! Idle capacities of plants can be outsourced. Short capacities in plants can be wet leased from the best globally certified manufacturing plants in India. But the goal HAS to be 100% natural RTE Snacks and Gravies to hotels, banqueting, and catering. The GOAL has to be food in its healthiest, purest form: so that the world is assured – If It’s from India, It's nil preservatives, flavor enhancers, or chemicals.

"Do we realize that even approved chemicals are chemicals and not food?"

Even approved chemicals were approved in ideal lab conditions in limited duration testing. Even once-approved chemicals like MSG arguably may cause cancer 10 years later. Vanaspati used in Momos may narrow down blood vessels and cause heart attacks. Can we take a risk? A typical approval runs like:

“The INS … xyz, when tested under controlled laboratory conditions, is found to be safe for human consumption within a maximum limit of 15 micrograms per day.” When you eat an item, do we care (or even know) that we can have only one piece; else we will be in the unsafe limit of the approved chemical!

Events like Aahar that enjoy massive footfall are showcasing many such companies. Companies on a mission – to give food as an elixir – to provide variety and taste in a responsible way! The fraternity of chefs in leading premium and mid-segment hotels is rapidly transforming itself into Food Mavericks. Eat tasty, eat healthy.