Food Prices and Energy Density as Barriers to Healthy Food Patterns in Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

We recorded the cost of food in supermarkets in 3 communities in Cape Town, South Africa, each populated by a different ethnic group with widely differing levels of income. We calculated the cost of dietary energy costs (CDE) for each food item as Rand per 4.18 MJ (1000 kcal) and energy density (ED) as kJ per 100 g. Many foods that provide energy at a low CDE also have a high ED (eg, cookies [biscuits] and peanut butter). However, there are many foods available that have both a low CDE and a low ED (eg, oats and beans). Several foods with a low ED have a very high CDE (eg, cucumber and hake). Dietary costs pressure low-income people to consume energy-dense, nutritionally inferior diets.