Paper short abstract:

This work explores how increasingly industrialised poultry markets intersect with consumption norms linked to caste, religion, class, and gender to shape unequal poultry consumption in India. It argues that addressing these interconnections is crucial to curbing malnutrition in the Global South.

Paper long abstract:

This paper examines poultry consumption patterns across gender and age groups in urban India, analysing the influence of socio-economic constraints, household composition, and poultry market and production factors. Despite India’s economic growth, malnutrition remains a pressing issue, exacerbated by limited access to nutrient-rich foods such as poultry, alongside affordability, social inequalities, and food safety concerns. Previous research has highlighted poultry’s affordability and nutritional benefits in India, yet consumption remains uneven due to economic and social stratification. Expanding on these disparities, this paper draws on original data from 600 urban households in urban India to explore intra-household consumption dynamics at the intersection with the poultry market.

The findings reveal that, despite increased poultry availability, gender and age significantly influence access to poultry, with socio-economic factors such as caste, religion, and income further compounding consumption inequalities. Structural barriers related to poultry provisioning, including accessibility and pricing, also reinforce unequal gendered access to poultry products.

By integrating frameworks of food provisioning and social reproduction, the work provides a nuanced understanding of how gender, socio-economic status, and the poultry sector intersect to shape urban dietary patterns. It underscores the critical role of social dynamics in determining access to animal-sourced foods and highlights the broader implications for addressing malnutrition. The paper concludes that addressing entrenched gendered consumption inequalities within households is essential to tackle malnutrition. Policymakers and stakeholders must confront these structural barriers and inequities to ensure fair access to nutritious foods for all.