A study published in Current Science Journal (March 2012) has
reported alarmingly high rate of increase in oil consumption in
India. According to the study conducted by DM Hegde, project
director at Directorate of Oilseed Research, the per capita
consumption of edible oil in India has increased almost five
folds during the period of 1950-2011. The author argues that
increase in oil consumption at this rate may pose, on one hand,
increased risk of health problems due to high fat consumption on
the other hand it will also mean dependence on import to fulfill
the additional demand for vegetable oils. Fat is an essential
ingredient of the diet. It supplies energy and essential fatty
acids that help body in absorbing fat soluble vitamins and
maintaining metabolic balance. According to the dietary
guidelines by National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), 15-30 % of
the total energy intake should come from fats. The author
calculated the average need of fat for Indian population to be
29 g per person per day which is equ