A Comparison of Food Supply Over the Recent 25 Years and Degree of Dietary Westernization in Taiwan With Asian Countries and World Continents

Abstract

Objective To compare quality, quantity, and trends of food supply from 1984 to 2009 and degree of food westernization in Taiwan with Asian countries and world continents by using food balance data(FBS). Methods We compiled data from FBS of Taiwan and FAO, including five continents and three most populated countries each in Eastern, Southern, and South Eastern Asia over the period 1984-2009. Quantity of food supply per capita was referenced to Taiwan food guides. The population-weighted means of food supply from Europe, North America, South America, and Australia & New Zealand Continents in terms of energy and nutrient distributions, animal/plant sources, and sugar/alcohol contribution were used asindicators of westernization. Findings Taiwan's food supply, although currently provides sufficient food per capita, showed decreasing trends through recent years. The cereals/roots supply and rice to wheat ratio kept as the lowest, while the meat and oil supplies per capita were the highest among the 10 studied Asian countries. Judging by the indices of food energy from animal food (kcal, %), total food protein(g), protein to total energy(%), total food fat(g), fat to total energy(%), protein/fat from animal sources(%),Taiwan had the most westernized food patterns. Conclusion Food supply of Taiwan, although currently sufficient, indicated some security problems and high tendency of diet westernization.