Shantanu Deshpande, the Founder and CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, recently voiced his apprehensions about the growing trend of quick food delivery in India. In a strongly-worded LinkedIn post, Deshpande shed light on the nutritional, health, and operational concerns plaguing this burgeoning industry.
The Epidemic of Poor Nutrition by Shantanu Deshpande
Deshpande believes India is facing a “biggest epidemic” of poor nutrition. He criticized the growing dependence on processed and ultra-processed foods. These items, high in palm oil and sugar, are harmful to public health.
He also pointed out the low-quality food often delivered by quick-service platforms. Frozen purees, reheated vegetables, and curries garnished to appear fresh are common. “This food is rushed to your door in 10 minutes because you couldn’t wait another 15,” he remarked. Deshpande questioned why consumers wouldn’t cook a simple home-cooked meal like daal chawal instead.
“Frozen purees and curries and old vegetables heated and garnished with dhaniya to look fresh and slammed in some 2-wheeler who rides like Mad Max to your door in 10 min cos you couldn’t wait another 15 min or you were too lazy to chadhao a cooker of daal chawal.”
The Race for Instant Gratification
Deshpande recounted a conversation with a founder of a quick commerce food brand, where the founder revealed that their process involved a cooking time of just 2 minutes and a delivery time of 8 minutes. This revelation shocked Deshpande, as it underscored the emphasis on speed rather than quality or nutritional value.
“Cook time 2 min, delivery time 8 min. A ‘qcom for food’ founder told me this and I lost my mind,” he wrote.
His linkedin profile
This pursuit of instant gratification, he argued, often comes at the cost of health, sustainability, and the dignity of labor for delivery personnel.
Broader Implications
Deshpande’s critique sheds light on the unsustainable practices of the quick food delivery market:
- Nutritional Compromise: Processed and ultra-processed food not only lacks essential nutrients but also contributes to lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and heart problems.
- Strain on Workers: The pressure to meet rapid delivery timelines creates unsafe working conditions for delivery personnel, who often drive recklessly to fulfill demands.
- Consumer Mindset: The convenience of quick delivery is making consumers overly reliant on unhealthy, ready-made options, reducing the effort spent on cooking nutritious, homemade meals.
- Environmental Impact: Fast food delivery often leads to increased waste from single-use packaging and the carbon footprint of last-mile logistics.
A Call for Responsible Practices
Deshpande urged food delivery platforms to rethink their strategies and focus on providing healthier, more nutritious meals. He emphasized the need for creating awareness among consumers and encouraging them to make better food choices.
His post challenges stakeholders to reflect on the cost of convenience. By addressing these issues, the quick food delivery industry can create a healthier, more sustainable future.
Conclusion
Shantanu Deshpande’s critique reminds us of the hidden costs of instant gratification. His concerns are a call to action for consumers, delivery platforms, and policymakers. Together, they must build an ecosystem that values health, sustainability, and fairness over speed.
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