The Hidden Cost of Quick Food Delivery: Insights from Bombay Shaving’s CEO Shantanu Deshpande

India's quick food delivery market has been booming, offering the convenience of meals delivered to your doorstep in under 10 minutes. While this level of efficiency seems like a win for busy individuals, Shantanu Deshpande, CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, has raised some critical concerns about its impact on health and food quality.

In a thought-provoking LinkedIn post, Deshpande highlighted the alarming trade-offs behind these rapid food services. He emphasized that the combination of ultra-processed, unhealthy ingredients and compromised cooking methods could lead to long-term health issues for consumers.

A Closer Look at Quick Food Delivery

Deshpande shared an interaction with a fellow founder in the quick commerce industry, which left him shocked. The founder revealed that food was being cooked in just two minutes and delivered in eight—a timeline Deshpande found concerning.

This race for speed often means sacrificing nutrition and freshness. Many of the meals rely on frozen purees, pre-cooked curries, and reheated vegetables, garnished to appear fresh. “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,” he remarked, criticizing the industry’s methods.

A Nation on the Brink of a Health Crisis

Deshpande pointed out a bigger problem—India’s growing dependence on processed and ultra-processed foods laden with palm oil and sugar. He compared the nation’s trajectory to that of the US and China, where junk food addiction has led to significant health challenges.

“Our junk food addiction, fueled by ₹49 pizzas, ₹20 energy drinks, and ₹30 burgers, is taking us down the path of China and US without the economic cover needed for health,” Deshpande cautioned.

An Urgent Call for Better Practices

The CEO called on food delivery giants like Swiggy, Zomato, and Zepto to focus on making their offerings healthier and more palatable. He also appealed to regulators to ensure the quality of food being served. “Regulators—please keep eye. Most of all, everyone else—please cook. It’s an adult skill,” Deshpande urged.

He also reminded people about the importance of home-cooked meals, highlighting their role in maintaining gut health and overall well-being. “The gut is the epicenter of your existence. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT,” he said.

Social Media Reactions

Deshpande’s post resonated with many netizens who agreed with his concerns. Several users called for better regulation of the food delivery industry, while others advocated for more mindful eating habits.

Shreshtha Gupta, a business strategy consultant at Accenture, echoed Deshpande’s sentiments, recalling her grandmother’s advice: “Jaldi ka kaam shaitan ka hota hai” (Haste makes waste). Meanwhile, Jaikishan Bhatia, a manager at Cipla, suggested separating preparation time from delivery time to maintain food quality without compromising speed

Reference from:-https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/bombay-shaving-company-ceo-shantanu-deshpande-raises-concern-over-indian-food-delivery-zomato-swiggy-zepto-11734253072301.html