Food

Important : AMOUNT & VARIETY of food, to ensure balanced nutrients in our diet.
Daily calorie intake : Amount of calories a person consumes everyday
Food Consumption per capita : total amount of food consumer in an area per number of people
in the area.

TRENDS IN FOOD CONSUMPTION SINCE 1960S

As the population increases, people feared of eventual food shortage. Hence, since 1960s there’s an
increase in food production. According to FAO in 2002, the daily calories intake per person is 2800
kcal, more than average amount required of 2586 kcal.
However, in reality, amount and variety of food that people consumes differ in each places.

LEVEL OF FOOD CONSUMPTION IN DCs & LDCs

People in DCs generally consume more food than LDCs
As the world food consumption level is increasing since the 1960s, it differs in each regions.
The food preference also changes :
 DCs : According to WHO report in 2003, the general fats consumption in North America &
western Europe is higher than maximum recommendation of 35%. (unhealthy)
There has been a rise rate of illness, such as heart disease & diabetes. Nowadays, people
are more conscious and reduced their fat consumption.
According to US govt, proportion of fat consumed from meat had fallen from 33% in
1950s to 26% in 2000.
There’s a rise in healthy food consumption. Imports of olive oil in USA have doubled from
1995 to 2005. Consumption of organic food also increased. Although they are more
costly, sales of organic food in UK has tripled in 5 years.
People are also more exposed to different variety of food from around the world,
influencing them to change in food preference, creating the term ‘fusion food’.

 LDCs : people in LDCs used to be consuming mainly staple food for carbohydrates provider for
energy. However, it has been falling down, from 78% in 1972 to 68% in 2000.
Report by FAO in 1995 stated that since 1970s, consumption of roots & tubers in Pacific
Islands fell by 8%, while cereal consumption increases by 40%.
This may be due to increase in variety of non-staple food in LDCs. Non-staple food, like
fish & meat, has become more common in urban areas. In China, there’s an increase in
adults consumption of fat, from 33% in 1991 to 61% in 1997.
Theres also an increasing popularity of fast food. The number of fast food outlets has
increased by 10% in 2003 to 2004. 54% of Pilipino eat fast food at least once a week.