High food prices will negatively impact our health

The World Bank reported that in 2021, approximately 10,418 Vincentians (about 10.3% of the population) were experiencing “severe food insecurity.”

Inevitably, over the last three years, this number has increased with the velocious rise in food prices. Those at the lowest rung of the economic ladder are bearing the brunt of the impact.

The fact that an inordinate percentage of our food is imported further undermines the food security of families across our archipelago.

Post-pandemic studies have shown that food price increases for healthy foods (e.g. fruit, vegetables, fish) outpaced the rise in food prices for unhealthy foods. (e.g. ultra-processed foods, and foods that are salty, sugary, and high in saturated fat).

Unfortunately, salaries have not kept pace with food price increases. Longitudinally, this has resulted in the consumer’s purchasing power becoming progressively compromised. By default, consumers are forced to purchase less expensive, and by extension unhealthier food items for themselves and their families.

A meta-analytic study that gathered data from 162 countries and published in the British Medical Journal in 2013 (BMJ 2013;346:f3703) showed that the health of members from poorer (and fixed-income) households is most adversely affected by higher food prices. The authors concluded, “This has important implications for national (government) responses to increases in food prices…”

High food prices:

● Determines what is consumed.
● Shifts consumption to poorly nutritious food options.
● Significantly undermines the health of the consumer.
● Increases the level of hunger within the community.
● Compromises dietary diversity.
● Disproportionally impacts the health of the elderly, young, impoverished, single mothers, and lower-income individuals.

Complications linked to the consumption of unhealthy food in adults:

● Malnutrition
● Lethargy
● Reduced productivity
● Increased predisposition to infections
● Type 2 diabetes
● Hypertension
● Heart disease
● Stroke
● Kidney disease
● Reduced lung capacity
● Autoimmune diseases
● A range of cancers
● Poor memory
● Dementia
● Reduced fertility
● Constipation
● Depression
● Sleep apnea

Children who consume unhealthy food are more prone to:

● Malnutrition
● Delayed growth
● Delayed developmental milestones
● Learning disabilities
● Poor wound healing
● Increased predisposition to infections
● Scurvy
● Marasmus
● Lethargy
● Asthma
● Tooth decay
● Joint problems
● Obesity
● Constipation
● Eczema
● Poor academic performance
● Reduced energy
● Behavioural issues
● Type 2 diabetes
● Hypertension
● Sub-optimal health in adulthood.
● Death in childhood

Impact nationally of poor diets:

● Greater number of A&E visits – e.g. out-of-control diabetes and hypertension because of poor diets.
● Longer hospital stays.
● More same-day surgeries.
● Greater number of visits to health clinics.
● Increased demand for home care services.
● Greater non-prescription and prescription drug use.
● Compromise in food options in school feeding programmes.
● Suboptimal academic performance.

What can be done to mitigate the biopsychosocial impact of rising food prices:

As families and individuals

● Eat home.
● Devise a plan to reduce food wastage at home.
● To reduce impulse buying you should always prepare a shopping list of your food needs (and not wants) that you carry to the supermarket.
● Methodically plan your meals.
● Avoid buying food from fast-food outlets.
● Leave your children at home when going to the supermarket.
● Look out for expiration discounts.
● Start a kitchen garden, growing herbs, seasonings, and vegetables.
● Once or twice a week try a meatless meal substituting meat with peas, beans, and lentils.
● Ziplock and freeze leftovers wherever possible.
● Other.

Government’s role:

● The Ministry of Health should periodically conduct public education campaigns on the negative health impact of unhealthy foods.
● A government drive should be initiated to reduce food wastage.
● Stoke supermarkets’ social conscience so they become more considerate corporate citizens.
● The government needs to look at introducing price controls on a basket of 16-20 healthy food items.
● The government should cut VAT and/ or introduce subsidies for these items.
● The government needs to introduce a junk food sales tax.
● The government needs to provide (more) incentives for our farmers – e.g. reducing duties on farming equipment, and inputs (e.g. biofertilizers).
● The government needs to incentivize the introduction of a private local ferry service which could facilitate the movement of agro-products and farmers between the farms and market – e.g. along the Leeward coast
● The government must look into removing any existing trade tariffs/ barriers from agro- products.
● The SVG government, in conjunction with the OECS, Barbados, T&T, and Guyana governments, should provide financial incentives to the private sector to start an inter-island ferry service facilitating the movement of agro-products between our countries.
● Other

In General:

● Like-minded citizens should come together and form consumer protection groups.
● Workplaces, especially those with more than 10 employees, should look into buying in bulk at discounted prices, these savings are then passed on to their employees.
● Other

“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” – Ann Wigmore.

Author: Dr. C. Malcolm Grant – Family Physician, Family Care Clinic, Arnos Vale.
Former tutor in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados. Host of the radio programme- Physician On Call. For appointments: clinic@familycaresvg.com, 1(784)570-9300 (Office), 1(784)455-0376 (WhatsApp).
Disclaimer: The information provided in the above article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. Dr. C. Malcolm Grant, Family Care Clinic or The Searchlight Newspaper or their associates, respectively, are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information provided above.