National Food Consumption Patterns: Converging Trends and the Implications for Health

Worldwide, obesity almost tripled between 1975 and 2016 and is now prevalent in both rich and poor countries. Using annual food availability data produced by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) covering half a century in 118 countries, this article explores the diets that are central to the problem of obesity, identifying groups of countries with similar consumption patterns. Applying algorithms from the fuzzy clustering literature, five distinct consumption patterns are revealed whose dietary composition broadly corresponds to diets that we label ‘Western’, ‘Traditional’, ‘Mediterranean’, ‘Tropical’ and ‘Vegetarian’. Despite differences in dietary characteristics, all five share two common themes: rising total calories and declining healthiness, both of which are linked to the substitution of plant-based foods with food derived from animals. That the evidence points to a convergence on the ‘Western’ diet, the most obesogenic and least healthy of all the diets we consider, is a cause for concern. The key message is that in a future where people are predicted to live longer – but not necessarily healthier – lives, recent efforts to address the challenge are prescient, and as the results in the article imply, need to be heeded globally.     

Exploring Food Consumption Trends on Twitter with Social Media Analytics: The Example of #Veganuary

Using the example of the hashtag #veganuary, a neologism of vegan and January, on Twitter with over 52,000 tweets from 2022, this article shows how Social Media Analytics can provide valuable insights into timing, volume and sentiment within any emerging (consumer) trend. Social Media Analytics is increasingly being used for the analysis of Social Media data. Whether consumers, politicians or entrepreneurs, all stakeholders in the food value chain are present on Social Media and talk about various trends in food and agriculture. In the form of an overview article, this contribution uses the example of the Vegan Challenge to demonstrate how a combination of the manifold methods of Social Media Analytics can provide extensive insights into the public discourse on food topics. It shows that #veganuary communication on Twitter has a predominantly positive connotation in the discussion of all stakeholders involved. The Vegan Challenge can also be categorised as a strong marketing campaign with a competitive character. #veganuary is commonly discussed on Twitter in tweets related to topics, such as veganism and the climate crisis. We argue that Social Media Analytics usefully extends classical analytical tools of consumer research on emerging and spreading food trends, and offers opportunities for many research studies.     

Consumption Trends of Edible Mushrooms in Developing Countries

Abstract

Mushrooms are an important commodity worldwide. However, a thorough understanding of consumption trends is not yet available. In developing countries, the importance of edible mushrooms within consumer preferences and perceptions has not been studied. We carried out a study (2000-2003) to understand the patterns of mushroom consumption in central Mexico, where most wild/cultivated mushrooms are produced and/or marketed. About one-half (49.4%) of urban consumers bought mushrooms, independently of their social level [fresh or canned: white button mushroom (Agaricus), oyster mushroom (Pleurotus), shiitake (Lentinula). Preferences and perceptions from Mexican consumers depended on the social level. Mushroom prices were considered very or moderately expensive. Mushrooms were markedly more expensive than foods widely consumed. The variation of mushroom prices was a major factor influencing consumption. Basic data to carry out further marketing research are discussed, as well as an integral strategy considering social levels and regions to increase mushroom consumption.     

Strategic Marketing and the Dynamics of Food Consumption

Patterns of food consumption shift as countries develop, incomes increase, and lifestyles change. Strategic marketing in this dynamic environment involves aiming at moving targets. Fortunately, some of these changes in demand for food products can be anticipated by understanding those that have already occurred. We consider changes in consumption over time for selected nations as they have developed and also compare a cross section of countries at different levels of development. Seeking and retaining markets in high-, middle-, or low-income countries requires an appreciation of the stages, dynamics, and nature of heir economic development and the implications for food demand.     

Household Food Consumption in a Developing Economy:

The primary objective of this paper is to describe household rice consumption patterns in Nigeria with evidence from Imo State, determine the nature, magnitude and direction of income, price and cross price elasticities of demand, and examine the factors influencing household rice consumption. A budget survey of 50 randomly selected rural and urban households in Imo State, Nigeria, interviewed. The survey was repeated for 14 months between November 1984 and January 1986, providing the data used for analysis. There were significant differences between urban and rural household per capita daily rice consumption. Income (expenditure) elasticity of demand was greater than unity, and decreased, as expected, from low to high income groups. Household income was the most important determinant of food consumption. The implications of these findings for food and international trade policy are discussed.     

Foot-and-mouth Disease and Trade Restrictions: Latin American Access to Pacific Rim Beef Markets

Owing to their eradication of foot-and-mouth disease Argentina and Uruguay have recently been granted access to the fresh beef markets of the United States and Canada. This raises the prospect of Latin American suppliers gaining access to other Pacific Rim markets, and of increasing the integration of the Pacific and non-Pacific beef markets. A two-commodity spatial equilibrium model is constructed for the base year 1995. Projections are then made for the year 2001 under various policy and other scenarios. In some instances, major changes in trade patterns may result.     

Green Food Consumption in China: Segmentation Based on Attitudes Toward Food Safety

ABSTRACT

The objectives of this report are twofold: to examine the demographic factors that drive demand for green food and to segment Chinese consumers based on their attitudes toward food safety. An online survey was used to collect consumer behavior information. A total of 402 responses were obtained covering participants who lived in 24 provinces and municipalities in China. Probit modeling, analysis of variance, and cluster analysis are used. Income, education, age, gender, presence of young children, household size, and overseas experience are variables that have an impact on green food purchase. Young, wealthy men, who have young children and live in a small household, are likely to buy green food. The survey shows that Chinese consumers are willing to pay a price premium for green food; however, price will be a major factor restricting the growth of the green food label in China, given market prices. Three segments―the “distrustful consumer,” the “ambivalent consumer,” and the “trusting consumer”―are identified for market segmentation purposes.     

对中国农村食品消费商品化问题的探讨

本文利用中国农村住户调查的有关资料，初步探讨了中国农村居民的食品消费现状、食品消费商品化的变化、城镇化对农村居民食品消费模式的影响，并对影响中国农村居民食品消费的现金支出和实物支出的因素进行了计量分析。笔者认为，中国农村居民食品支出比重大，但绝对支出水平仍相当低，城乡居民的食品消费还存在较大差距。随着农村居民收入水平的提高，食品消费现金支出的比重加速增长，食品消费商品化趋势明显；随着农村居民消费总支出的增加，食品消费现金支出和实物支出相对下降，且实物支出比现金支出下降快。在外饮食是农村居民食品消费支出快速增长的一个重要原因，农村劳动力转移导致的农村人口下降及农村城镇化也将对食品消费带来重要影响。     

城镇化背景下食品消费的演进路径:中国经验

改革开放以来,中国开启了史无前例的城镇化进程。在此过程中,食品消费总量快速增长,食品消费结构不断升级。通过对中国1995~2012年度省级城乡消费数据的观察,居民消费除了具有典型的区域特征之外,还呈现出空间上的渐次递进的特点,这为研究中国食品消费演进提供了样本。以此为基础,本文采用QUAIDS模型估计了不同时点的食品消费特征,从而分离出食品消费演进路径中的收入效应与迁移效应;此外,考虑到食品消费在时间与空间上存在渐次递进的增长—稳定机制,本文根据2030年的外生设定条件,模拟了中国食品消费顶峰的具体情景。分析表明,中国食品消费顶峰所带来的生产与进口压力均在可接受范围之内。基于分析结果,本文认为,中国有必要适度调整现行的农业支持政策,以适应未来食品消费的新变化。     

Assessing the Contribution of Attitudinal Variables in International Models of Food Consumption

Abstract

This study compares the predictive ability of attitudinal variables with that of demographic variables in an international context. Using hierarchical regression analysis, the contribution of attitudinal variables to five models of food purchase behavior in urban China is evaluated. The results of the study indicate that, in some circumstances, multinational firms might opt to omit attitudinal measures in international consumer studies. Analysis of variance techniques are then used to examine the relationship between key demographic variables and food purchase behaviors.     

Information Asymmetries and Consumption Decisions in Organic Food Product Markets

Organic agriculture is a rapidly growing segment of most developed agricultural economies around the world. To stimulate growth and circumvent supply‐side market failures that emerge when organic products are not segregated, governments have introduced regulations concerning the certification and labeling of organic food. While certification and labeling satisfy market demand for information provision, the introduction of these activities creates incentives for the mislabeling of conventional food as organic. Despite the incentives for, and the incidence of, mislabeling in organic food product markets, this issue has not been analyzed systematically. In fact, the possibility of mislabeling has been customarily neglected by economic studies of markets for credence goods in general. This paper addresses the issue of product type misrepresentation in organic food product markets and develops a model of heterogeneous consumers that examines the effect of mislabeling on consumer purchasing decisions and welfare. Analytical results show that, contrary to what is traditionally believed, while certification and labeling are necessary, they are not sufficient for alleviating failures in organic food product markets. The effectiveness of labeling depends on the level of product type misrepresentation. Consumer deception through mislabeling affects consumer trust in the labeling process and can have detrimental consequences for the market acceptance of organic products. When extensive mislabeling occurs, the value of labeling is undermined and the organic food market fails. L'agriculture biologique est un secteur qui prend rapidement de l'expansion dans la plupart des pays agricoles industrialisés. Pour stimuler la croissance de ce secteur et éviter les problèmes d'offre qui surviennent quand il n'y a pas ségrégation des denrées, les gouvernements ont adopté des règlements sur la certification et l'étiquetage des produits biologiques. Même s'ils satisfont la demande d'informations sur le marché, la certification et l'étiquetage ouvrent la porte à l'usage abusif du terme “biologique” sur l'étiquette des denrées ordinaires. Or, bien que les producteurs soient tentés d'utiliser le terme à tort et à travers et en dépit des incidences d'un tel comportement, le phénomène n'a jamais été analysé de manière méthodique. De fait, les analyses économiques sur le marché des denrées alimentaires, en général, négligent souvent la possibilité de fausses déclarations sur l'étiquette des produits. L'article que voici aborde ce problème sur le marché des aliments biologiques et propose un modèle qui tient compte des effets d'un étiquetage fallacieux sur les achats et le bien‐être de consommateurs hétérogènes. Les résultats de l'analyse indiquent que, contrairement à ce qu'on croit, la certification et l'étiquetage, bien que nécessaires, ne suffisent pas à atténuer les problèmes observés sur le marché des aliments biologiques. En effet, l'efficacité de l'étiquetage dépend du nombre de fausses déclarations. La déception qui résulte d'une fausse déclaration ébranle la confiance des consommateurs dans le système d'étiquetage, si bien que les produits biologiques sont mal accueillis sur le marché. Quand les fausses déclarations se multiplient, l'étiquette perd sa valeur et il devient impossible de commercialiser les denrées biologiques.     

Expenditure Pattern for Food Away from Home Consumption in Turkey

ABSTRACT

One of the largest recent changes in consumer food purchasing behavior is the trend towards greater consumption of food eaten outside the home. Between 1994 and 2000, the share of total food expenditures spent on food away from home (FAFH) increased from 7 to 15% with an increasing share for fast-food facilities. This study focuses on whether demographic and socioeconomic factors have detectable effects on Turkish FAFH expenditures. This question is of interest because previous studies suggest that increasing household income, education, female labor participation and changing lifestyle especially in developing countries increased household FAFH consumption share but decreased food at home consumption share. However, no study to our knowledge has examined the combined effect of income, education, employment, and family status on Turkish FAFH consumption. The data for this research were obtained from personal interviews of representative sample households of the province of Adana in Turkey. The findings of this study generally indicate that restaurant facilities, employment of wife and education, composition of household, and income are statistically significant determinants of FAFH consumption.     

日本食物消费结构演变及启示

本研究根据收集到的与食物消费紧密相关的日本现有的历史数据资料,从食物消费结构总特征、不同人群年龄特征和收入水平、Marshall交叉价格弹性分析来解读日本国民食物消费结构(或模式)的演变过程以及相应阶段食物营养元素摄入变化特征。     

我国城乡居民食品消费差异现状分析

在城镇居民主食消费急剧下降、动物性食品及酒类等奢侈品消费迅猛增加的同时,农村居民的食品消费结构变化缓慢。这说明解决城乡居民食品消费中存在的问题决不仅仅是快速发展经济所能解决的。本文对我国城乡居民食品消费现状及差异进行详细剖析,分析问题存在的原因,从而为有目的的引导我国城乡居民食品消费、优化仪器消费结构、缩小城乡差距及促进食品加工业发展提供一些参考。     

从食物消费需求角度谈中国土地利用战略

研究目的:从食物消费需求角度,研究中国土地利用战略,为保障中国食物安全和加强土地资源有效管理提供科学依据。研究方法:文献分析法,归纳总结法。研究结果:随着人均收入的增加,城乡居民对粮食的消费需求呈减少趋势,而对动物性食物消费尤其是家禽和水产品消费将会显著增加。中国城乡居民食物消费结构及水平地域差异明显。中国饲料用粮和工业用粮持续增长,占粮食总消费量的比重不断提高。粮食非主产区应转变主销区的观念,承担相应的粮食生产任务。中国粮食生产的重心已由南方向北方、东部向中部推移,应该加强对北方及中部新增长中心的潜力挖掘。研究结论:树立大食物观念,着眼于各类土地资源;因地制宜调整农用地结构,加强耕地质量保护;转变传统粮食供给观念,提高非主产区食物供给能力;加强粮食主产区建设,进一步提升粮食主产区粮食生产能力。     

Quasi- and Simulated-Likelihood Approaches to Censored Demand Systems: Food Consumption by Food Stamp Recipients in the United States

A quasi-maximum-likelihood estimator is proposed and applied to a censored Translog demand system for foods, using a sample of food stamp recipients in the United States. The procedure produces remarkably close parameter and elasticity estimates to those of the simulated-maximum-likelihood procedure. A two-step procedure is also considered but it produces different elasticities. Demands are found to be price elastic for pork and fish but price inelastic for all other food products. Gross complementarity and net substitutability are obvious but these cross-price effects are much less pronounced than own-price and total food expenditure effects.     

我国城镇居民在外用餐中粮食消费量的估计

随着我国城镇居民粮食消费模式的转变，研究我国粮食供求平衡将无法回避居民在外用餐中消费的粮食数量。本文通过对城镇居民粮食消费模式的假设，利用1992～2003年有关时间序列统计资料，估计了我国城镇居民在外用餐中直接消费的粮食数量，同时还根据估计的粮食消费数量，又进一步地评估它在城乡居民口粮消费及其粮食供求关系判断中的意义。     

食物消费结构变化对食物系统不同部门收入的影响

一、引言为了及时准确地把握农民收入的变化、制定相应的产业政策 ,美国农业部经济研究局(ＥＲＳ/ＵＳＤＡ)每年都公布食品消费支出的构成 ,即消费者用于购买食物而花费的每 1美元当中 ,农业、食品工业、运输业、流通业和饮食业各得到多少 (Ｅｌｉｔｚａｋ ,Ｈ .,1 997)。日本农林水产省也经常在“农业白皮书”中公布日本食物消费构成的有关情况。各国政府估计并发布这些指标 ,一方面是为了监测在整个食物供给链条中是否存在垄断力量或不正当竞争 ,从而制定相应的政策 ;另一方面是为了准确把握农民在整个食物供应过程中所处地位和收益状况的…