Nutrient adequacy for poor households in Africa would improve with higher income but not necessarily with lower food prices

This paper investigates how changes in food prices and incomes affect nutrient intake adequacy among poor households in sub-Saharan Africa. Using nationally representative household panel data from five countries, the study models consumer preferences and finds a stronger positive relationship between income growth and nutrient intake than previously documented. The impact of food staple prices on dietary intake adequacy is particularly pronounced in countries where a single staple dominates poor consumers' diets. In contrast, countries with multiple food staples show less sensitivity to any single staple's price.

Ellen B. McCullough, Meichen Lu, Yawotse Nouve, Joanne Arsenault, Chen Zhen