Food Consumption Changes in South Africa Since 1994

Food consumption is affected by food availability, accessibility, and choice. Changes in 1994 in South Africa dramatically affected food consumption patterns and continue to do so. Among others, there has been significant growth of supermarkets, rising urbanization, and growing per capita incomes are expected to double the demand for high-value foods. Here, Ronquest-Ross discusses how over the past 20 years, South African consumers have moved toward a Westernized diet--eating more meat, fats and oils, snacks, and soft drinks and less vegetables.