Food Habits Change Due to LPG Shortage

The ongoing tensions in West Asia have disrupted LPG supply, significantly impacting food habits in India. With reduced availability of cooking gas cylinders, there has been a sudden rise in demand for ready-to-eat food products that can be prepared quickly. India depends on imports for nearly 60 percent of its LPG needs, and disruptions in transport through the Strait of Hormuz have affected supply chains. Over the past 15 days, domestic LPG consumption has dropped by 17.7 percent compared to last year, and by 26.3 percent compared to February, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Due to the shortage, the central government is prioritizing domestic consumers, leading to a sharp cut in commercial cylinder supply for hotels and restaurants. This has resulted in higher prices and reduced availability, pushing middle-class consumers toward packaged foods such as pulihora, upma, and biryani. Demand for millet-based food products has also increased. According to Amazon, the instant noodles, packaged meals, and snacks segment has recorded over 15 percent growth. This trend is visible not only in metropolitan cities like Hyderabad and Mumbai but also in smaller towns, with companies scaling up production to meet rising demand.