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Half of all packaged foods sold on Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart are junk reveals nationwide survey
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Friday, 05 December, 2025, 12 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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A recent survey has revealed a disturbing trend that is nearly half of all packaged food items listed on leading quick-commerce platforms in India fall into the ‘junk food’ or ultra-processed foods (UPFs) category.
The study conducted by LocalCircles and based on responses from over 24,000 parents across 277 districts — found that many popular online grocery and rapid-delivery apps, including Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart, list a disproportionately high number of items high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS).
The platforms’ own listing-wise breakdown paints a stark picture on Blinkit, as much as 62% of packaged foods are HFSS; Zepto lists 58%; and Swiggy Instamart 54%. Other platforms like JioMart, BigBasket, MilkBasket, Amazon Fresh and Flipkart Minutes also have more than 40% of their offerings in this unhealthy category.
Parents also revealed that unhealthy items are not just listed they are frequently being bought. About 39% of households said that young members regularly order ultra-processed foods online including chips, soft drinks, chocolates, instant noodles, ice creams and other snacks.
Public health experts warn this boom of easy-access junk food can lead to rising obesity, diabetes, heart-related illnesses and other lifestyle disorders, especially among children and young adults who are most active on these platforms.
Given the situation, around 90% of surveyed parents support the idea of a conspicuous red warning label beside HFSS/UPF items on online grocery platforms believing it could help youth make healthier choices.
This survey, which many describe as a wake-up call, suggests that unless there is greater transparency, stricter regulation and better consumer awareness, quick-commerce platforms may continue to fuel unhealthy dietary patterns under the guise of convenience.
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