🚀 Science
Three in four young children in a Hyderabad study are wary of new foods, finds ICMR-NIN
In 60 seconds: About 77% of children aged 2 to 7 in a low-income Hyderabad neighbourhood showed moderate food neophobia, a reluctance to try unfamiliar foods, an ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition study found. Another 11.3% showed high levels. The study of 150 mother-child pairs, published in the Journal of Nutritional Science, linked this to mothers' feeding knowledge and practices, and found that wasted children were more wary of new foods.
Why it matters
Children who refuse new foods often eat a narrow diet and miss nutrients. India still has high child malnutrition, so how children are fed matters as much as what is on the plate.
Explain it simply
A child who has only ever had sweet milky chai may push away masala chai at first. Offer it calmly a few more times, and the new taste often wins.
The 3-minute read
What happened
Researchers studied children in Addagutta, an urban low-income community in Hyderabad, from August to October 2025, using the Child Food Neophobia Scale and WHO growth standards. 12% of children showed low neophobia.
Background
Children whose mothers scored moderately on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) about feeding had lower neophobia scores than those whose mothers scored low. Boys scored slightly higher than girls, but the gap was not statistically significant.
How it works
Lead researcher Dr Karthikeyan Ramanujam said programmes should promote positive mealtimes and repeatedly offer varied foods without pressure. ICMR-NIN Director Dr Bharati Kulkarni said ICDS and POSHAN Abhiyaan can be used to strengthen feeding counselling.
What's next
The study is small and from one neighbourhood, and it shows a link, not cause and effect. Larger studies can test whether feeding counselling reduces fussy eating.
What it means for you
If a young child refuses a new food, keep offering small amounts calmly over several meals rather than forcing it.
Key numbers
- ~77%: Children with moderate food neophobia
- 11.3%: Children with high food neophobia
- 150: Mother-child pairs studied
Both sides
- Researchers: Patient, pressure-free feeding and repeated exposure can help children accept new foods.
- Cautious readers: A small study in one area cannot show that mothers' practices cause fussy eating.
Key terms explained
- Food neophobia
- Reluctance or fear of trying unfamiliar foods.
- Wasted
- Having low weight for one's height, a sign of acute undernutrition.
The story so far
- 1975: Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) begins. ICDS began in 1975 to provide food, health check-ups and pre-school education to children under six and to mothers through anganwadi centres.
- Mar 2018: POSHAN Abhiyaan launched to fight malnutrition. The government launched POSHAN Abhiyaan in March 2018 to reduce stunting, undernutrition and anaemia among children and women.
- Today: ICMR-NIN: 77% of young children in Hyderabad study wary of new foods
Exam notes (UPSC, SSC, Banking, PSC)
- The ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) is in Hyderabad; it began in 1918 as a beriberi enquiry unit in Coonoor.
- Wasting means low weight for height; stunting means low height for age; underweight means low weight for age.
- POSHAN Abhiyaan was launched in March 2018 from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.
- ICDS, started in 1975, runs through anganwadi centres under the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Likely exam question: Besides food availability, what behavioural factors affect child nutrition? How can ICDS and POSHAN Abhiyaan address them?