Diet Cost Research Articles

Adoption of healthy and sustainable diets in Mexico does not imply higher expenditure on food.

The relative cost of healthy and sustainable diets is key for their adoption in different countries. Using a newly developed modelling tool that generates different diet baskets, we compared the costs of diets following the EAT-Lancet healthy reference diet, the Mexican dietary guidelines and locals' current food intake. On average, the cost of the EAT-Lancet healthy reference diet baskets was 21% lower than that of the Mexican dietary guidelines baskets, and 40% lower than that of the current intake baskets (29% lower if the comparison was isocaloric). Findings were similar over time (2011-2018) and by geographic region. The higher cost associated with the larger amount of fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts in healthy and sustainable diets was surpassed by the savings associated with their lower amount of animal protein sources, sugar-sweetened beverages and discretionary foods. We conclude that transitioning to better diets in Mexico is possible without a higher expenditure on food.

Partial replacement of forage and concentrate with pomegranate pulp (peel and seed) silage and pomegranate seed pulp in Mehraban fattening lambs: effect on performance and carcass characteristics.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of partial replacement of forage and concentrate with pomegranate pulp silage (PPS) and dried pomegranate seed pulp (PSP) on performance, dry matter intake (DMI), and carcass characteristics of fattening Mehraban lambs. Twenty-four male lambs (mean body weight 27.0 ± 3.5kg) were fed with three isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets (n = 8 per diet), consisting of a control diet, a PPS diet containing 27.2% pomegranate pulp silage, and a PSP diet containing 31.4% dried pomegranate seed pulp. The experimental diets were fed ad libitum as total mixed rations for 65-day fattening period, on two meals per day, and then the growth performance, feed intake, and carcass characteristics were determined. The initial BW, final BW, average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not different among the experimental diets. The amount of DMI in PSP diet was higher than that in the control diet (P = 0.023) but was not different between the control and PPS diets. There was no significant difference among diets for carcass characteristics. Using PPS and PSP in the diets decreased (P < 0.05) the kidney fat, but had no impact on the heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, and lungs. The results showed that PPS and PSP could be used to replace part of the diet for fattening lambs, while decreasing the dietary cost without having any negative effects on animal performance.

MODERN CALF REARING SYSTEM

Calf rearing is critical to a successful dairy or beef cattle breeding. Maximum productivity at the lowest cost can be obtained from healthy calves only. Zootechnical, biochemical and economic research methods were used during the experiments. It has been determined that feeding calves with experimental milk replacer with milk period duration of 65 days allowed to obtain 692 g of the average daily weight gain for the experiment period, that is 2.3% lower than the control indicator. Feeding calves with WMR helps to reduce the cost of diet by 6.0% and the price cost of weight gain by 3.6%. Use of dry skimmed milk replacer and whole milk replacer during the rearing period, with milk period duration of 115 days, contributed to decrease in weight gain by 1.8 and 1.2% compared to the control variant. Feeding calves with DSMR and WMR helped to reduce the cost of diet by 10.3 and 5.8% and the price cost of weight gain by 8.5 and 4.8%. Feeding with DSMR and WMR in diet for young animals over 115 days of age during the post-milk period increases concentration of erythrocytes in blood by 10.0 and 9.8%, hemoglobin - by 5.8 and 3.9%, amount of glucose - by 11.0 and 9.5%. Inclusion of DSMR and WMR in diet for young cattle with milk period duration of 65 and 115 days contributed to increase in the average daily weight gain in the post-milk period by 9.2 and 10.7%, while reducing the cost of feed by 5.8 and 7.6%, price cost of weight gain by 6.1 and 7.7% and increase in additional profit in the amount of 8.35 (3.5 USD) and 10.58 (4.5 USD) rubles per animal during experimental period. In the future, it is necessary to improve the feeding system of young cattle using new developments in this area.

Association between the socio-economic status of households and a more sustainable diet.

A sustainable diet is an affordable diet with low environmental impact, high food security and sufficient healthiness. The present study aimed to assess the correlation between the socio-economic status of households and a sustainable diet. The food basket and socio-economic data of Iranian households were evaluated during 2016-2018. The households were classified based on the sustainability of their diet by determining the dietary carbon footprint, dietary water footprint, lower dietary costs of the household than the median and a higher dietary quality index than the median. Logistic regression was used with four models to calculate the OR of a more sustainable diet as the dependent variable regarding the different quartiles of socio-economic status (SES) as the independent variable. Iran. Iranian households (n 102 303), nationally representative, were studied. Lower SES was associated with the higher OR of a sustainable diet (OR: 0·90; (95 % CI 0·87, 0·91)). Higher quartiles of SES compared with the lower SES group indicated the higher energy intake and consumption of more dairies, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, legumes, nuts and fruits, as well as the lower intake of bread, cereal, rice and pasta. In countries such as Iran, where nutrition transition occurs rapidly, better economic and social levels in the populations with a higher SES are associated with increased energy intake and higher consumption of animal-based foods, which decreases sustainable diets compared with the groups with a lower SES.

Food promotions and the cost of a healthy diet.

With approximately two in three UK adults overweight or obese, one in five living in poverty and our emergence from the Covid-19 pandemic with implications for employment and income status there is an urgent need to understand what it costs to eat healthily and the role that promotions can play in helping householders manage food budgets. The literature suggests that, in affluent countries, price promotions appear to increase consumer food purchases and are applied more frequently to less healthy products than their healthy counterparts. This review discusses the cost of a healthy diet, identifies the prevalence of promotions in both the supermarket setting generally and a typical shopping basket specifically, and discusses the barriers to affording a healthy diet. Given the current policy focus on the cost of living and population health emphasising the need for food shopping to represent health and value for money for better public health outcomes, this review contributes to the evidence base for retailers' and policymakers' consideration as policy solutions are sought to reduce population obesity levels, while ensuring the affordability and accessibility of nutritious food. It is important, given the shift in consumer purchasing behaviour to online shopping as a result of self-isolating or reticence to physically access stores in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, that retail food promotions are available irrespective of the chosen mode of shopping (in-store or online).

Costing recommended (healthy) and current (unhealthy) diets in urban and inner regional areas of Australia using remote price collection methods.

To compare the cost and affordability of two fortnightly diets (representing the national guidelines and current consumption) across areas containing Australia's major supermarkets. The Healthy Diets Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing protocol was used. Price data were collected online and via phone calls in fifty-one urban and inner regional locations across Australia. Not applicable. Healthy diets were consistently less expensive than current (unhealthy) diets. Nonetheless, healthy diets would cost 25-26 % of the disposable income for low-income households and 30-31 % of the poverty line. Differences in gross incomes (the most available income metric which overrepresents disposable income) drove national variations in diet affordability (from 14 % of the median gross household incomes in the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory to 25 % of the median gross household income in Tasmania). In Australian cities and regional areas with major supermarkets, access to affordable diets remains problematic for families receiving low incomes. These findings are likely to be exacerbated in outer regional and remote areas (not included in this study). To make healthy diets economically appealing, policies that reduce the (absolute and relative) costs of healthy diets and increase the incomes of Australians living in poverty are required.

Pulses of anthropogenic food availability appear to benefit parents, but compromise nestling growth in urban red-winged starlings

The provision of anthropogenic food undoubtedly influences urban bird fitness. However, the nature of the impact is unclear, with both benefits and costs of urban diets documented. Moreover, the influence of short-term fluctuations in food availability, linked to urban weekday/weekend cycles of human presence, is largely unknown. We explored whether breeding red-winged starlings Onychognathus morio in Cape Town, South Africa, altered foraging and provisioning behaviour between days with high human presence (HHP) and days with low human presence (LHP)—i.e. weekdays versus weekends and vacation days. We investigated the relationship between starling diet, adult body mass and nestling development. Breeding adults consumed and provisioned the same quantity of food, but a significantly greater proportion of anthropogenic food on HHP compared to LHP days. Adults apparently benefited from the anthropogenic diet, experiencing significantly greater mass gain on HHP days. However, nestlings experienced a cost, with the number of HHP days during the nestling period associated negatively with nestling size. Adults may, therefore, benefit from the high calorie content of anthropogenic food, while nestlings may be negatively affected by nutrient limitation. The quantity of food available in urban environments may, therefore, benefit adult survival, while its quality imposes a cost to nestling growth.

Affordability of Healthy and Sustainable Diets in Nigeria

This study examines the cost and affordability of healthy diets in Nigeria. Using the 2015/16 and 2018/19 waves of Nigeria General Household Surveys, we find that, generally, the least-cost options to meet dietary recommendations for vegetables, dairy, and protein-rich foods are more expensive to meet than that of other food groups. Despite improvements during the survey years, the challenges of affordability of healthy diets appear more pronounced in rural than urban, among poorest household groups, and in northern than southern Nigeria. Results suggest that it will be more expensive to meet the dietary recommendation for dairy foods if priority will be given for food systems sustainability over concerns for food preferences of the households. It will however be cheaper to achieve dietary recommendations for vegetables, fruits and starchy staples even when households give more consideration to food systems sustainability than tastes and preferences in their choice of healthy foods. Relative affordability of protein-rich foods are less affected by whether (or not) tastes/preferences or food systems sustainability drives healthy food choices. Key implication is that interventions targeting on affordability of healthy diets should give greater attention to the poorest of the poor, to rural than urban, and to northern than southern Nigeria. Implications relevant for research, policy, and other actors that focus on transformation of the food systems toward achieving healthier diets in a sustainable food systems are discussed.

The cost of diets according to diet quality and sociodemographic characteristics in children and adolescents in Belgium

This study aims to estimate cost variations according to diet quality and sociodemographic characteristics in children. Data (n = 1,596; 5–17 y) from the Belgian National Food Consumption Survey were used. The “Kidmed index” and dietary patterns (DP) identified through principal component analysis were used to assess diet quality. Daily diet cost was estimated after linking the consumed foods with the GfK ConsumerScan panel food prices. The mean diet cost was 4.68€/day (SEM: 0.05). Adjusted for covariates and energy intake, the mean diet cost was 9.1% higher in the highest Kidmed adherence (vs. the lowest) and 6.2% higher in the tercile T3 (vs. T1) of the “Healthy” DP score. It was 4.8% lower in the T3 (vs. T1) for the “Junk food” DP score. Diet cost was higher in 12–17 year-olds (vs. 5–11 years) and in medium and high educated household (vs. the lowest). These findings support policies to make healthy diets more affordable.

Pulses Twice a Week in Replacement of Meat Modestly Increases Diet Sustainability.

The French food-based dietary guidelines recommend eating pulses at least twice a week and to reduce meat consumption. This study assessed the impact on the sustainability characteristics (nutrition, cost, environment) of individual diets of meeting the pulse guideline. Dietary data of 2028 adults from the Esteban survey were completed with the nutritional content (considering bioavailability on iron, zinc and protein), price and environmental impacts of foods. When the pulse guideline (i.e., 57 g/day) was not met, two substitution scenarios raised the quantity of pulses to the recommended level, in replacement of an equivalent portion of (i) starches or (ii) meat. Only 9.6% of the participants reached the pulse guideline. Diet sustainability characteristics improved with the meat scenario (nutritional indicators improved; diet cost, greenhouse gas emissions and acidification decreased), while several indicators deteriorated with the starches scenario. Zinc available for absorption slightly decreased in both scenarios while iron available for absorption decreased in the meat scenario only. Increasing pulse consumption to two portions/week could modestly improve the sustainability of diets when pulses replace meat but not starches. Cultural acceptability of that substitution still needs to be proven, and iron and zinc status of individuals at risk of deficiency should be monitored.

Cost and Affordability of Healthy, Equitable and Sustainable Diets in Low Socioeconomic Groups in Australia.

Few Australians consume a healthy, equitable and more sustainable diet consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADGs). Low socioeconomic groups (SEGs) suffer particularly poor diet-related health problems. However, granular information on dietary intakes and affordability of recommended diets was lacking for low SEGs. The Healthy Diets Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing protocol was modified for low SEGs to align with relevant dietary intakes reported in the National Nutrition Survey 2011–2012(which included less healthy and more discretionary options than the broader population), household structures, food purchasing habits, and incomes. Cost and affordability of habitual and recommended diets of low SEGs were calculated using prices of ‘standard brands’ and ‘cheapest options’. With ‘standard brands’, recommended diets cost less than habitual diets, but were unaffordable for low SEGs. With ‘cheapest options’, both diets were more affordable, but recommended diets cost more than habitual diets for some low SEGs, potentially contributing to perceptions that healthy food is unaffordable. The study confirms the need for an equity lens to better target dietary guidelines for low SEGs. It also highlights urgent policy action is needed to help improve affordability of recommended diets.

Future of food: Innovating towards sustainable healthy diets

Future of food: Innovating towards sustainable healthy diets

Effect of Cassava Starch Sources on Growth and Feed Utilization of Nile Tilapia Fingerlings (Oreochromis niloticus) Reared Under Two Dietary Protein Levels

A 42-day experiment was performed to evaluate the growth performance and feed utilization of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings fed iso-lipidic diets (5% lipid) contain 17% or 25% of cassava starch extract from fresh root (R starch) or from dry chips (D-starch) at 37% and 30% protein levels. The diets were ie: 37% protein -FM25R17 &amp; FM25D17, 30% Protein- FM15R25 &amp; FM15D25. 144 fish (1.11+0.02g) were distributed in 12 tanks (54 L). Protein level or starch source had no impact on final weight, length, average daily gain, specific growth rate, food conversion ratio, hepato somatic index, viscero somatic index, and Whole-body composition of fish. Protein Efficiency Ratio was not affected by starch source; however, it was significantly higher in diets with low protein content. Apparent Digestibility Coefficient of dry matter was not affected by starch source but was significantly high in low (30%) protein diet. Inclusion of R starch substantially reduced the cost of feed and increased economic profitability. Tilapia fed FM15R25 diet showed similar growth and nutrient utilization to fish fed 37% protein diets and cost of FM15R25 diet was lower than other diets. Therefore, FM15R25 is the best practical diet among the tested diets for Nile tilapia fingerlings.

Physiological response to the weaning in two pig lines divergently selected for residual feed intake.

Breeding efficient pigs is a way to reduce dietary costs and environmental waste. However, optimization of feed efficiency must not be linked to a decrease of the ability of animals to cope with stress, such as the weaning. This study characterizes the response after weaning of pigs from two lines divergently selected for residual feed intake (RFI) during growth. Animals of the low (L) RFI line are more efficient than animals from the high (H) RFI line. Thirty-six piglets from each line weaned at 28days of age were individually housed and fed a conventional dietary sequence. Their performance, behaviour, health and oxidative status, immune and nutritional parameters were followed during three weeks. Daily feed intake and growth rate of pigs from the LRFI line were 35% and 40% lower compared with HRFI (p<0.001). Pigs from the LRFI-line had lower total tract apparent digestibility (-6% for OM) and suffered more from undernutrition with a 167 and 55% higher plasmatic concentration of NEFA and urea compared with HRFI (p<0.01). In the first week after the weaning, they had more diarrhoea and had a higher inflammatory status with concentration of haptoglobin 52% higher (p<0.001). These piglets then seemed to adapt to the weaning conditions and to recover during the second and third weeks. Both lines had similar zootechnical performance and physiological characteristics at the end of the post-weaning period. To conclude, the physiological responses to the weaning differed between lines. Pigs from the LRFI line, selected for greater feed efficiency, were more sensitive to the weaning stress. They were also more resilient as they finally adapted to the new condition and recovered to show similar performance results as pigs of the HRFI line.

Pathways to “5-a-day”: modeling the health impacts and environmental footprints of meeting the target for fruit and vegetable intake in the United Kingdom

ABSTRACTBackgroundFruit and vegetable consumption in the United Kingdom is currently well below recommended levels, with a significant associated public health burden. The United Kingdom has committed to reducing its carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, and this transition will require shifts towards plant-based diets.ObjectiveThe aim was to quantify the health effects, environmental footprints, and cost associated with 4 different pathways to meeting the United Kingdom's “5-a-day” recommendation for fruit and vegetable consumption.MethodsDietary data based on 18,006 food diaries from 4528 individuals participating in the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2012/13–2016/17) constituted the baseline diet. Linear programming was used to model the hypothetical adoption of the 5-a-day (400 g) recommendation, which was assessed according to 4 pathways differing in their prioritization of fruits versus vegetables and UK-produced versus imported varieties. Increases in fruit and vegetable consumption were substituted for consumption of sweet snacks and meat, respectively. Changes in life expectancy were assessed using the IOMLIFET life table model. Greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs), blue water footprint (WF), and total diet cost were quantified for each 5-a-day diet.ResultsAchieving the 5-a-day target in the United Kingdom could increase average life expectancy at birth by 7–8 mo and reduce diet-related GHGEs by 6.1 to 12.2 Mt carbon dioxide equivalents/y; blue WFs would change by −0.14 to +0.07 km3/y. Greater reductions in GHGEs were achieved by prioritizing increased vegetable consumption over fruit, whereas the greatest reduction in WF was obtained by prioritizing vegetable varieties produced in the United Kingdom. All consumption pathways increased diet cost (£0.34–£0.46/d)ConclusionsBenefits to both population and environmental health could be expected from consumption pathways that meet the United Kingdom's 5-a-day target for fruit and vegetables. Our analysis identifies cross-sectoral trade-offs and opportunities for national policy to promote fruit and vegetable consumption in the United Kingdom.

Challenges faced by people with epilepsy on ketogenic diet therapy and their caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil

BackgroundAlthough ketogenic diet therapy (KDT) is a well-established, nonpharmacologic therapeutic option for patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy, its availability is still not widespread. The COVID-19 pandemic may have further restricted the access of people with pharmacoresistant epilepsy (PWE) to KDT. Thus, we evaluated the experiences of Brazilian PWE and their caregivers during the first year of the pandemic. MethodsAn online self-assessed survey containing 25 questions was distributed via social media to be answered by PWE treated with KDT or their caregivers through Google Forms from June 2020 to January 2021. Mental health was assessed using the DASS and NDDI-E scales. ResultsFifty adults (>18 yo), of whom 68% were caregivers, answered the survey. During the pandemic, 40% faced adversities in accessing their usual healthcare professionals and 38% in obtaining anti-seizure medication (ASM). Despite these issues, 66% of those on KDT could comply with their treatment. Those struggling to maintain KDT (34%) named these obstacles mainly: diet costs, social isolation, food availability, and carbohydrate craving due to anxiety or stress. An increase in seizure frequency was observed in 26% of participants, positively associated with difficulties in obtaining ASM [X2 (1, N = 48) = 6.55; p = 0.01], but not with KDT compliance issues. ConclusionsPeople with pharmacoresistant epilepsy and undergoing KDT, as well as their caregivers, faced additional challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, not only difficulties in accessing healthcare and KDT maintenance but also on seizure control and mental health.

Adhering to a Mediterranean diet in a Mediterranean country: an excess cost for families?

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) has been decreasing in southern Europe, which could be linked to several cultural or educational factors. Our aim is to evaluate the extent to which economic aspects may also play a role, exploring the relationship between food prices in Portugal and adherence to the MD. We evaluated data from the Portuguese National Food, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Survey (IAN-AF 2015-2016) (n 3591). Diet expenditures were estimated by attributing a retail price to each food group, and the diet was transposed into the Mediterranean Diet Score used in the literature. Prices were gathered from five supermarket chains (65 % of the Portuguese market share). Linear regression models were used to assess the association between different adherence levels to the MD levels and dietary costs. Greater adherence to the MD was associated with a 21·2 % (P < 0·05) rise in total dietary cost, which accounts for more 0·59€ in mean daily costs when compared with low adherence. High adherence individuals (v. low adherence) had higher absolute mean daily costs with fish (0·62€/+285·8 %; P < 0·05), fruits (0·26€/+115·8 %; P < 0·05) and vegetables (0·10€/+100·9 %; P < 0·05). The analysis stratified by education and income level showed significantly higher mean daily diet cost only amongst higher income groups. Our findings suggest that greater adherence to the MD was positively and significantly associated with higher total dietary cost. Policies to improve population's diet should take into consideration the cost of healthy foods, especially for large low- and middle-income families.

COVID-19 pandemic leads to greater depth of unaffordability of healthy and nutrient-adequate diets in low- and middle-income countries.

Unaffordability of healthy diets affected 3 billion people before the COVID-19 pandemic, 2.5 billion of whom lived in 63 low- and middle-income countries. In these 63 countries, income losses due to the pandemic have markedly worsened the affordability gap. The proportion of people unable to afford half the cost of a healthy diet increased from 43% to 50%; this increased unaffordability will aggravate undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and diet-related non-communicable diseases.

Higher-diet quality is associated with higher diet costs when eating at home and away from home: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2016.

To evaluate the association between diet quality and cost for foods purchased for consumption at home and away from home. Cross-sectional analysis. Multivariable linear regression models evaluated the association between diet quality and cost for all food, food at home (FAH) and food away from home (FAFH). Daily food intake data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2016). Food prices were derived using data from multiple, publicly available databases. Diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2015 and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010. 30564 individuals ≥20 years with complete and reliable dietary data. Mean per capita daily diet cost was $14·19 (95 % CI (13·91, 14·48)), including $6·92 (95 % CI (6·73, 7·10)) for FAH and $7·28 (95 % CI (7·05, 7·50)) for FAFH. Diet quality was higher for FAH compared to FAFH (P < 0·001). Higher diet quality was associated with higher food costs overall, FAH and FAFH (P < 0·001 for all comparisons). These findings demonstrate that higher diet quality is associated with higher costs for all food, FAH and FAFH. This research provides policymakers, public health professionals and clinicians with information needed to support healthy eating habits. These findings are particularly relevant to contemporary health and economic concerns that have worsened because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additional costs of lactose-reduced diets: lactose-free dairy product substitutes are a cost-effective alternative for people with lactose intolerance.

People with lactose intolerance have to limit their consumption of lactose-containing dairy products which are a main source of Ca. In particular, for low-income people it is of interest which alternative diet form rich in Ca leads to the lowest additional costs. This study aims to calculate the additional costs of lactose-reduced diets and to show which of different options represent the most cost-effective alternative within a lactose-reduced diet. Using linear programming, food baskets with different lactose contents were calculated and were compared to a basic model, reflecting a normal diet without a limitation of lactose. By comparing the costs and the composition of the food baskets, recommendations for a lactose-reduced diet were derived. Germany. A consumer panel dataset representative for Germany is used for the calculations. Information on prices and nutrients is derived from the 9429 adult households without children, and information on consumed food quantities from the 3046 single households. The minimum additional food costs depend on the severity of lactose intolerance and range from 0·2 % to 6·1 % per month. It was found that the greatest adjustments due to lactose reduction could be observed within the dairy product group. In this group, with a rising lactose limit, normal milk was increasingly replaced by lactose-free milk. It was shown that a lactose-reduced diet is generally associated with higher food costs. When suffering from lactose intolerance, switching to lactose-free milk seems to be the most cost-effective way to cover nutrient requirements.