An increase in food prices changed dietary patterns of both high and low-income societies in past decades, parallel to an increase of cancer, an expert says.
Dr. Sandra Crispim, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil and a World Cancer Research Fund International Academy fellow, said when food prices go up, healthy foods become too expensive for some shopping budgets. Moreover, an increase in food prices is strongly associated with an increase in consumption of less expensive processed energy-dense foods, which are linked to obesity, increasing heath risk, Crispim said.
The World Cancer Research Fund International says it has long been advocating the message that diet plays a role in cancer risk. It suggests eating at least five portions/servings of a variety of non-starchy vegetables and of fruits every day.
"In addition to changes in food quality, the quantity of food available can also impact meal frequency, portion size and meal timing. It can result in family members -- particularly women -- compromising their own meal patterns in order to provide enough for children or other vulnerable individuals," Crispim said in her blog at World Cancer Research Fund International.
"When the economy changes, shifts in dietary habits are inevitable and were observed over recent decades in both high and low-income societies," she said. "The (latest) financial crisis could impact nutrition in many ways. However, if we are strategic about improving nutrition, dietary habits could change for the best."
For example, eating local food cuts food costs.
At this year's International Congress on Nutrition in Granada, Spain, Dr. Martin Caraher from the City University in London said society needs to focus on food production when dealing with nutrition during a financial crisis.
"For example, Martin questioned why we are exporting dairy products to lactose intolerant populations such as those in Asia," Crispim said. "Indeed, this does not make much sense to me, just as it also doesn't make any sense why I was drinking coconut water packed in Thailand, when I arrived in Brazil five months ago -- since Brazil is one of the biggest natural sources of coconut water. These are not sustainable ways of feeding our populations."
North Carolina State University says U.S. consumers spend $547 billion for food originating on U.S. farms and ranches. Of each U.S. dollar spent on food, the farmer's share is approximately 23 cents. The rest are for costs added once the food leaves the farm -- wages and materials for production, processing, marketing, transportation and distribution.
The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture reported the average fresh food item on a U.S. dinner table travels 1,500 miles to get there.
