Nutrition Suffers As Food Prices Soar

Rising food prices have an adverse effect on nutrition because consumers move away from luxury food items such as meat, fish and dairy products to more affordable foods with less quality, according to a new study that will be published in an upcoming issue of the Food and Nutrition Bulletin.

Researchers form the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) examined the effects of food price hikes on calorie consumption in seven Latin American countries. Using data from nationally representative household budget surveys, they found during a food price crisis calorie intake was reduced an average 8 percent from pre-crisis levels; rural areas and urban areas were equally affected; and the wealthiest households actually increased caloric intake, exceeding 10 percent of pre-crisis levels.

The researchers discovered households shifted from buying meat, fish and dairy products to poorer quality food. They said the reduction in calories and critical nutrients for children under age 2 could pose long-term consequences such as stunted growth, cognitive deficits, lower educational attainment and reduced future productivity.

Sources:

Washington University in St. Louis: Food price crisis can lead to deteriorating nutrition