The Likely Impacts of Food Price Increases on Nutritionally Vulnerable Households in South Africa

The intake of food is a basic human physiological need that is essential for survival, growth, health and general well-being. Without an adequate supply of food a human being cannot sustain life, grow or develop optimally, nor utilize energy. Such lack of access implies food insecurity. South Africa (SA) is classified as a developing country, with developing countries representing a third of the world's population. Increased food prices in 2007-2008 were a worldwide phenomenon; it is argued that this case study presents insights that apply more broadly than to one country alone. About 35 percent of the SA population was food insecure and categorized as being poor in 2005. With the food price crisis of 2007-2008 and the global economic crisis which followed soon thereafter, most households needed to employ food coping strategies to survive. Strategies such as skipping meals, reduction of dietary diversity and reducing portion sizes of staple foods consumed are discussed in this chapter along with the costs of a balanced varied diet compared to average household income. Of the coping strategies documented here, some have had significant negative impacts on individuals' often already deprived nutritional status. The likely impacts of the 2007-2008 food price crisis and the continuing effects of food price inflation on the nutritional status of vulnerable households highlight the prevailing inadequate nutritional situation facing poor households in South Africa. This chapter addresses these issues as well as proposing possible solutions to the problems.