‘Cooking time in 2 minutes, delivery in 8 minutes’: CEO raises concerns over fast food delivery
Shantanu Deshpande, CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, criticized the fast food delivery culture, citing concerns over the deteriorating nutrition of ultra-processed foods loaded with palm oil, sugar and grains.
Bombay Shaving Company CEO Shantanu Deshpande has expressed concern over India’s growing obsession with fast food delivery and warned about its potential impact on health and nutrition.
In a viral LinkedIn post, Deshpande expressed his surprise after learning from the founder of a quick commerce (QCom) food company that food could be prepared in just two minutes and delivered in eight minutes.
Highlighting the issue, Deshpande wrote, “Cooking time 2 minutes, delivery time 8 minutes. Founder of ‘Cucom for Food’ told me this and I lost my mind.”
Additionally, he criticized this trend, citing concerns over ultra-processed foods loaded with palm oil and sugar, deteriorating grain nutrition, and the increasing popularity of cheap junk food.
“Our junk food addiction fueled by Rs 49 pizzas and Rs 20 toxic energy drinks and Rs 30 burgers is taking us on the path of China and America without the necessary economic cover for health,” he said.
Deshpande also called out frozen and pre-cooked meals, emphasizing how fast delivery services use as processed ingredients as fresh food. He particularly urged companies like Zomato, Swiggy and Zepto to focus on making their offerings healthier and more nutritious.
Advising people to prioritize home cooking, the CEO also urged regulators to monitor this emerging trend and its consequences. He emphasized that food should be prepared in such a way that rice and lentilsMaking a sandwich, or salad, is an essential life skill that only takes a few minutes to ensure better health in the long run.
“Frozen purees and curries and old vegetables are heated and garnished with coriander to look fresh and slammed into some 2 wheeler, which rides like Mad Max to your door in 10 minutes as you Can’t wait 15 more minutes or you are too lazy to load it into the dal rice cooker,” the CEO wrote in the LinkedIn post.
Her post ended with a candid reminder, “The gut is the center of your existence. You are what you eat”.
He urged adults to learn to cook because it is a skill, saying no one is too busy to take out 10 minutes from their schedule to prepare a good home-cooked meal.
