A Review of Dietary Surveys in the Adult South African Population from 2000 to 2015

Abstract

One serious concern of health policymakers in South Africa is the fact that there is no national data on the dietary intake of adult South Africans. The only national dietary study was done in children in 1999. Hence, it becomes difficult to plan intervention and strategies to combat malnutrition without national data on adults. The current review consequently assessed all dietary studies in adults from 2000 to June 2015 in an attempt to portray typical adult dietary intakes and to assess possible dietary deficiencies. Notable findings were that, in South Africa micronutrient deficiencies are still highly prevalent and energy intakes varied between very low intakes in informal settlements to very high intakes in urban centers. The most commonly deficient food groups observed are fruit and vegetables, and dairy. This has been attributed to high prices and lack of availability of these food groups in poorer urban areas and townships. In rural areas, access to healthy foods also remains a problem. A national nutrition monitoring system is recommended in order to identify dietary deficiencies in specific population groups.

Food and nutrition labelling: the past, present and the way forward

“…16 It was found following a recent review of dietary surveys in the adult South Africa population from 2000-2015 that urban Africans in KwaZulu-Natal and North West province have a higher percentage energy intake from fat and added sugar than their rural counterparts, while South Africans in general have a very low fruit and vegetable intake. 17 Results from the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study in North West province also indicated that urban South Africans have a higher intake of micronutrients than those living in rural areas, with a substantial percentage of people not meeting the dietary reference intakes (DRIs). 18,19 It was also found in this study that added sugar intake, particularly in rural areas, has increased rapidly over the past five years.…”

“…22 With the overconsumption of staple foods, dietary fat, added sugar and a low micronutrient intake, South Africans are at great risk of NCDs. 17,20 In 2008, 59% of men and 72% of women were overweight in South Africa, while 21% of males and 41% of females were obese. Thirtyfive per cent of South African male adults and 32% of females aged ≥ 25 years suffered from high blood pressure.…”

Dairy intake-related intentions, attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control of South African nutrition professionals

“…Against the backdrop of poor compliance with dietary recommendations internationally 15,16 and low intakes of dairyrelated nutrients in South Africa, 14 this study showed that few local nutrition professionals -the presumed opinion leaders in the field of dietary behaviour -habitually consume 2-3 servings of dairy daily. The challenge related to promoting dairy intake in South Africa is thus at least two-pronged: firstly, addressing the dairy-related behaviour of nutrition professionals so as to make them credible educators, advocates and agents of change; 21 and, secondly, to address the population at large.…”

“…10 These low intakes are suggested by market research 11 and a secondary analysis of the only National Food Consumption Survey of 1999, which showed that 19-35% of people aged 10 years and older consumed milk, with a mean per capita daily intake of 38-74 g, depending on the dietary assessment method. 12 Similarly, data from the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) Study 13 and Mchiza et al 14 point to low dairy consumption.…”

Nutrition-Sensitive Agricultural Development for Food Security in Africa: A Case Study of South Africa

“…Non-communicable diseases have emerged in Sub-Saharan Africa at a faster rate and at a lower economic level than in industrialized countries before the batle against under-nutrition could be won. Adverse changes in dietary paterns include increased consumption of foods from animal origin rich in total and saturated fat, decreased intakes of legumes and vegetables and increased intakes of energy-dense, micro-nutrient-poor snack foods, convenience foods (often high in sodium), vegetable oils and sweetened carbonated beverages as well as added sugar, fats and oils during the preparation of food [10]. Although increases in fruit and meat consumption have been observed, the increased intake has not been suicient to meet all micro-nutrient needs [9].…”