Slug: Fermented Diet Revival
New Delhi
NITI Aayog member Rajiv Gauba has urged a return to India’s traditional fermented foods to counter the growing dependence on ultra-processed diets, warning that current food habits could pose serious risks to gut health and long-term public well-being.
Speaking at a probiotic symposium organised by the Gut Microbiota and Probiotic Science Foundation, Gauba highlighted how changing lifestyles, the influence of social media-driven food trends, and the rapid expansion of quick-commerce platforms are pushing people away from nutritionally rich, traditional diets. According to an official statement, he cautioned that such dietary shifts could have far-reaching consequences, especially as nearly 56.4 percent of India’s disease burden is linked to unhealthy or imbalanced diets.
Gauba emphasised that India’s rich legacy of fermented foods and traditional dietary practices provides a unique opportunity for the country to lead the global probiotic movement. By combining age-old knowledge with modern genomic and microbiome research, India can develop scientifically validated probiotic solutions that address both infectious and chronic diseases.
He underlined the significant role probiotics can play in improving nutrition, strengthening immunity, and reducing disease burdens. Stressing the broader impact of microbial health, Gauba remarked that micro-organisms could create macro consequences, urging clinicians and researchers to actively counter misleading advertisements and misinformation in the probiotics and supplements market.
Highlighting government efforts to improve healthcare accessibility and affordability, Gauba referred to flagship schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, PM-JAY, PM Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. He noted that out-of-pocket health expenditure has significantly declined from 62.6 percent in FY15 to 39.4 percent in FY22, resulting in savings of over Rs 1.25 lakh crore for households.
Gauba further stressed that India’s demographic dividend can only be fully realised with a healthy workforce and proactive preparation for an ageing population. He called on healthcare professionals to promote the use of affordable generic medicines and to leverage digital health tools, including telemedicine, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, to expand access to specialist care in underserved regions.
The remarks underscore a growing recognition of the link between diet, gut health, and national productivity, positioning traditional food systems as a key pillar of future public health strategies.
