Food Biodiversity and Consumption Pattern in Eastern India

Food is the basic necessity for human survival and evolution. A region with different food species and their abundant growth and availability demonstrate better consumption pattern of different food items. The purpose of this study has been to identify food varieties and energy consumption ratio among people with low and high income levels among thirty randomly selected Bengali Hindu families of Kolkata, east India. In addition the study also investigated the influence of income on the availability and abundance of different food items and their corresponding amounts. The survey indicated that people from low income groups demonstrated lack of key nutrients in their regular diets with symptoms of deficiency diseases. Income has a direct effect on the consumption rate of foods. Low income and illiteracy were found as the two main factors of difference between the two economic classes. The study further highlights that higher income was associated with better consumption of nutritious food. The current volume will be useful for those involved in research and development in food, food preferences and food habits, nutrition sciences, ethnicity, socio-economic and cultural relations.