{
  "id": 6686058,
  "title": "From Maggi noodles to Thums Up: How India became dependent on cheap packaged food",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/from-maggi-noodles-to-thums-up-how-india-became-dependent-on-cheap-6686058",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-11T01:51:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Business Times - Companies & Markets",
    "slug": "the-business-times-companies-markets",
    "url": "https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/maggi-noodles-thums-how-india-became-dependent-cheap-packaged-food"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "India's packaged food market reached US$137.25 billion in 2026, up from US$129.18 billion in 2025, according to IMARC Group. The growth is driven by cheap branded food products like Maggi instant noodles and Thums Up, which appeal to India's low-income households. These companies sell more nutritious versions overseas, but local versions use cheaper ingredients to keep prices affordable. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) may soon introduce red warning labels for products exceeding government-set limits on sugar, salt or fat, a move met with resistance from the industry. Diabetes affects about 101 million Indians and is partly attributed to processed food high in sugar. Nestle and Coca-Cola, among other foreign food giants, have been in India for over a century, introducing affordable products that have become staples in Indian households. Despite health concerns, Indians continue consuming large amounts of these products, with Maggi being a top seller.",
  "summary": "India’s packaged food market grew to US$137.25 billion in 2026, from US$129.18 billion in 2025",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "From Maggi noodles to Thums Up: How India became dependent on cheap packaged food",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/from-maggi-noodles-to-thums-up-how-india-became-dependent-on-cheap",
        "published": "2026-09-11T00:43:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}