High Food Prices and the Global Financial Crisis Have Reduced Access to Nutritious Food and Worsened Nutritional Status and Health,

Abstract

A global economic and financial crisis is engulfing the developing world, coming on top of high food and fuel prices. This paper assesses the impact of the crises on food consumption, nutrition, and health. Several methods were applied, including risk analysis using the cost of the food basket, assessment surveys, simulations, regression analysis using a food consumption score (FCS), reflecting diet frequency and diversity, and a review of the impact of such dietary changes on nutritional status and health. The cost of the food basket increased in several countries, forcing households to reduce quality and quantity of food consumed. The FCS, which is a measure of diet diversity, is negatively correlated with food prices. Simulations show that energy consumption declined during 2006-2010 in nearly all developing regions, resulting potentially in an additional 457 million people (of 4.5 billion) at risk of being hungry and many more unable to afford the dietary quality required to perform, develop, and grow well. As a result of the crises, large numbers of vulnerable households have reduced the quality and quantity of foods they consume and are at risk of increased malnutrition. Population groups most affected are those with the highest requirements, including young children, pregnant and lactating women, and the chronically ill (particularly people with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis). Because undernutrition during the first 2 y of life has life-long consequences, even short-term price rises will have long-term effects. Thus, measures to mitigate the impact of the crises are urgently required.

Effects of rising food prices on household food security on femaleheaded households in Runnymede Village, Mopani District, South Africa

“…A monotonous diet, poor-quality food and the lack of choice can lead to micronutrient deficiencies and disorders. 22 Alterations owing to rising food prices may include changing to lower-quality and less nutritious foods, a reduction in consumption by certain members of the family, a reduction in the frequency of consumption and/or size of the portion, as well as reduction in diet diversity, leading people to become trapped in poverty at household level. This results in a malnourished community, and more likely, in the cycle of malnutrition.…”

Food Prices and Population Health in Developing Countries: An Investigation of the Effects of the Food Crisis Using a Panel Analysis

“…Malnutrition at a young age may also impair proper mental development and learning ability, leading to reduced work productivity in later years. Brinkman et al (2010) warn that high food prices risk undoing much of the progress made toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), 1 which call for the reduction in under-5 mortality by two-thirds (Goal 4) and the halving of the proportion of underweight children (Goal 1) between 1990 and 2015. On the other hand, Konandreas (2012) reveals that low-income countries, especially the poor net food-importing countries that depend on imports for a large share of their food consumption, have limited means to procure food and other necessities, and have been deeply affected by the food crisis in recent years.…”

“…An accurate assessment is needed to help target social assistance policies and programs, monitor their progress, and evaluate their effects. Some studies have examined the impact of the recent global food crisis, in combination with the global financial crisis, on nutrition and health (Brinkman et al 2010;Christian 2010;Webb 2010;Darnton-Hill and Cogill 2010;Bloem et al 2010). Brinkman et al (2010) assess the potential effects of the global financial crisis on food consumption, nutrition, and health by examining various transmission channels.…”

“…Some studies have examined the impact of the recent global food crisis, in combination with the global financial crisis, on nutrition and health (Brinkman et al 2010;Christian 2010;Webb 2010;Darnton-Hill and Cogill 2010;Bloem et al 2010). Brinkman et al (2010) assess the potential effects of the global financial crisis on food consumption, nutrition, and health by examining various transmission channels. Focusing on the effect of high food prices on food consumption, they show that a food consumption score-a measure of diet frequency and diversity-was negatively correlated with food prices in Haiti, Nepal, and Niger; and argue that a large number of vulnerable households in developing countries reduced the quality and quantity of their food consumption, and faced the risk of malnutrition as a result of the global financial crisis.…”

What works and why? Evaluation of a community nutrition programme in Kenya

“…Despite this strong call to action, and an increasing political momentum to tackle the problem, the global nutrition crisis is still increasing in gravity and scope as countries suffer multiple structural assaults from food, fuel and financial crises and climate change. Simultaneously, as Brinkman et al (1) suggest, energy consumption has declined between 2006 and 2010 in nearly all developing regions, with young children being among those most affected. In the wake of the Lancet series a technical consensus has been reached on a package of single-shot, targeted interventions that 'work' (2) .…”