1071. Global Food Expenditure Patterns

Given the need to feed a growing global population amid the effects of climate change, progress towards healthier and more sustainable diets is one of the most important global challenges. Historically, high-income countries have dictated food spending patterns and have had a significant impact on agriculture and food production practices globally. In particular, the shift to an energy-intensive, animal-based diet over the past few decades has shaped not only the direction of food production, but also international trade trends by prioritizing specific commodity crops. These trends have significant environmental implications through their impact on land use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the shift in consumption has been accompanied by rising levels of obesity and non-communicable diseases.

Against this backdrop, concerns about environmental and health impacts have sparked interest in whether low-income consumers will adopt the "Western" diet of high-income consumers as low-income countries develop their economies. As the global food system evolves, it is critical to determine whether food demand from consumers in low- and high-income countries will converge in the development of agricultural, trade, and public health policies.

The paper, published in the journal Nature Food, looked at trends in whether consumer allocation patterns to household food spending are converging globally, focusing on total food spending, 12 food categories, and ultra-processed foods and beverages in more than 90 countries over the past few decades.　

Contrary to expectations, the paper found that, food spending patterns in low-income countries do not necessarily converge universally with food spending patterns in high-income countries. Consumers in low-income countries showed a strong preference for plant-based foods, while consumers in high- and upper-middle-income countries tended to allocate the back of their household budget to animal products. Moreover, with the increase in income, spending on luxury goods such as alcoholic beverages and tobacco also increased. Interestingly, across all income levels, spending on ultra-processed foods was around 5% and spending on ultra-processed beverages was around 2%.

Each country's budget allocation for food seems to be influenced by a variety of factors, including income levels, food imports, production growth rates, GDP per capita, and culture. While spending on food and luxury goods is on a downward trend globally, the divergence in spending between high- and low-income countries suggests that flattening is unlikely. In specific areas — such as fruit trees, sugars and confectionery, mineral waters and soft drinks, and tobacco — budget proportions are expanding in some countries while expanding declining in others.

The paper cautions that spending patterns reflect consumers' food choices within economic constraints and do not indicate dietary intake. The study also does not look at the differences at the regional and national levels. To predict future food demand's impact on the environment and health and inform policy decisions, further study of food spending patterns by region (e.g., Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia) is necessary.

Reference
Liang, W., Sivashankar, P., Hua, Y. et al. Global food expenditure patterns diverge between low-income and high-income countries. Nat Food (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-024-01012-y

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki, Information Program