FOOD ENVIRONMENT: CONCEPTUALIZATION AND IMPORTANCE IN PERSPECTIVE OF URBAN INDIA

Abstract

Food environment of an individual is characterized by the ‘availability of food’ and ‘affordability of food’. The latter determines the type of food available that is nutritious or non-nutritious nature of food while former determines the access to food in terms of purchasing power of people. These two components of food environment collectively play a major role in determining the food and nutritional security of any region. Country like India is characterized by the disparity in income-levels, demography and development. Likewise, India is characterized by regions with varying degree of ‘food security’ and ‘nutritional security’. The present research article discusses the concept of ‘food environment’ in perspective of urban India. Further, the present research study investigates that how the above-mentioned concepts helpful in identifying the regions with food security and nutritional security or both. The study is based on secondary data collected from various governmental and non-governmental agencies.