‘Zomato, Swiggy and Zepto, please do not…’: Mumbai CEO’s warning over super-fast meals deliveries

Shantanu Deshpande, CEO of Bombay Shaving Firm, has sounded the alarm on India’s rising reliance on speedy meals supply, calling it a well being epidemic within the making.

In a powerful message on LinkedIn, Deshpande criticized the reliance on processed and ultra-processed meals that dominate supply platform menus, typically crammed with palm oil and sugar.

“Our habit to junk meals, fueled by ₹49 pizzas, ₹20 vitality drinks and ₹30 burgers, is main us down the trail of the US and China, with out an financial security internet for healthcare well being,” Deshpande wrote, urging the meals supply giants. like Zomato, Swiggy and Zepto to rethink their strategy.

“Zomato, Swiggy and Zepto – please do not do it. And should you’re so eager, please make the product palatable. I’d like it if we innovated and will truly give non-stale, respectable meals in 10 minutes. Huge unlock. However I do not assume we’re near it but.

Deshpande shared her shock on the trade’s race to ship meals in document time.

“Cooking time: 2 minutes. Supply time: 8 minutes. A founding father of qcom for meals informed me this and I misplaced my thoughts,” he wrote. The CEO additionally criticized the usage of frozen elements disguised to seem recent, carried by supply drivers dashing by way of visitors to satisfy unrealistic deadlines.

The startup founder argued that India’s obsession with comfort meals poses a severe risk to public well being in the long run. “The intestine is the epicenter of your existence. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT,” he warned.

Deshpande addressed his message not solely to companies and traders, but additionally to regulators and customers. He referred to as on regulators to offer higher oversight of meals high quality, even beneath 10-minute supply.

To customers, his recommendation was easy: cook dinner. “Nobody is simply too busy to spend 10 minutes making a dal chawal, smoothie, salad or sandwich. It is an grownup ability. Be taught it,” he urged, warning that counting on quick meals may result in severe well being issues in the long run.

Deshpande’s publish struck a chord with many individuals on social media. Whereas some echoed his considerations, others prompt regulatory reforms to separate meals preparation time from supply time to make sure high quality.