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Rising food prices vs. declining nutrition

11 Feb 2022

  • Citizens weigh in on the struggles of putting food on the table
BY Sumudu Chamara Inflation has become a normal part of Sri Lankans’ everyday lives, and during the past few months, inflation has risen to an unbearable level. Inflation has affected almost all aspects of people’s lives. However, the rising cost of food is unlike other issues, as our existence depends on it. During the past few months, people have had to adjust their eating habits to match their income and the prices of food. According to the general public, although they have managed to purchase food, the quality of their meals has changed significantly, and being conscious about a nutritious meal is not something they can do anymore. Alternatives One individual who elaborated on how the rising cost of living had affected eating habits was V.A. Attanayake, a private sector retiree. He noted that before the sudden rise in inflation mid and late last year, it was possible to pay some attention to what type of food items made up his family’s meals. However, his family’s situation has changed for the worse, and the priority has become ensuring that there is enough food to feed the entire family. “There was actually a time when my wife and I planned in advance what we should consume in a week, and we tried our best to ensure that we had a balanced diet. We may not have thought about the nutritional aspects of food when we say a balanced diet but we of course had the ability to have all the main types of food, such as vegetables, fruits, grains, and meat. However, times have changed, and now, we cannot think about a balanced diet anymore. I do not think that any person from an average family has such a luxury. Increases in food prices are the main issue, because the prices of all basic food items have gone up by 50% to even 200%. However, that is not the main issue. The unavailability of food items, especially vegetables and milk powder, are also issues.” Speaking further about how this situation has affected his family’s eating habits, he explained that although a meal consumed by his family before the sudden rise in inflation usually consisted of at least three curries (vegetables and grains) and one meat item, it now consists mostly of one or two curries and a meat item. On a day or two per week, he said, his family’s meal may include three curries like before. He added: “We have started consuming more dhal to compensate for vegetables. Although the prices of dhal too have increased, it is easy to purchase because it is always available. At the same time, we have started consuming more chicken and eggs as protein, as fish has become a luxury food item. The prices of fish have increased by 50% to 80-90%, and middle-class families definitely need an alternative source of protein.” He condemned the Government’s response to rising inflation, adding that the Government has not only failed to address the present situation, but has also failed to acknowledge the true situation. “I don’t think that we can expect the Government to resolve this issue. If it had a genuine intention to do that or a plan, it would have at least acknowledged the dire situation the people are living in. But, instead, what it does is denying the facts that there are severe shortages in the country. In fact, large-scale importers and traders have a bigger ability to control food prices than the Government has,” Attanayake said. Milk powder shortage Attanayake’s sentiments about the Government’s role were reflected by Chandana*, a self-employed father of two. Adding that although the fact that even the Government is facing a hard time addressing the economic crisis is understandable, he said that the least the Government can do is introducing the people to cheaper, nutritious alternatives, and that the failure to do so will create a malnourished next generation. He spoke extensively of the existing milk powder shortage and how it has affected his children, and expressed disapproval of the Government’s lack of action to resolve it. “My two children, a girl and a boy, and my wife and I consume milk on a daily basis. My wife and I have had to stop our milk intake while also reducing our children’s milk intake. This is not a matter of whether powdered milk or cow’s milk is good or bad. If the people need milk powder, they should have the ability to purchase it. We have started purchasing liquid milk, but liquid milk cannot be easily kept as powdered milk and we are not used to it. Also, liquid milk does not contain the special nutrients included in the powdered milk we purchase for our children.” He expressed uncertainty that even though his children’s milk intake will wane as they grow up, his wife and him will still have to face difficulties because having a nutritious meal has become a challenge. “Sri Lanka is surrounded by the ocean, and we have plenty of fish. I saw that the Government has stated that fish exports had risen exponentially compared with the last few years. It is good for the export market. But, what about Sri Lankans who cannot afford fish despite the fact that fish should be the cheapest and most easily obtainable source of protein?” Access to nutritious diet However, those facing difficulties with regard to continuing and improving their eating habits due to the rising cost of living are not limited to people who cook their own meals. Those who consume restaurant-made food, be it normal Sri Lankan food or fast food, are also facing issues. According to Aravinda Nanayakkara, a private sector employee whose meals consist mostly of restaurant-made food, lamented about increasing cooked food prices and decreasing quality. “I consume restaurant-made food at least twice a day. While their prices have increased to an unbearable extent, the quality has also reduced notably. I work out in the gym and therefore am concerned about my food intake, and concerned about this change. The price of a protein bowl sold by a restaurant I often visit has increased by around Rs. 400 to Rs. 600, while other dishes high in protein have also increased by a similar amount. Not only upscale restaurants, even normal restaurants that sell local dishes have reduced the amount of curries they give and have increased the amount of rice or other carbohydrate sources. Usually, Sri Lankan meals contain more carbohydrates and less in terms of other types of nutrients, but the increasing prices of food have worsened it, and the people are now forced to have less healthy and less nutritious food.” Moreover, he claimed that the manner in which the rising food prices have affected restaurants has hindered middle-class Sri Lankans’ opportunity to shift from high-carbohydrate, high-calorie local food to low-carbohydrate, low-calorie healthy food. “I am not a rich person, but earlier I could afford to eat a few times a week from restaurants that sell healthy food. But now, due to food prices as well as the overall cost of living, which limits how much money I can allocate to eat from restaurants, I now have to think twice about eating healthy. Earlier, I had the option of cooking. But, now, cooking healthy food is not an easy task, and when compared with the time and resources I have to spend to cook my own food, it is still cheaper to eat from a restaurant. The situation in fast food restaurants has changed in a completely different manner. While some have increased their prices whilst keeping the quality of the food at the same level, some have not changed prices but have reduced the size of the portions or the amount of various ingredients including meat.” He lamented about the present situation, emphasising that the situation is such that people cannot buy, cook, or purchase healthy food. Elderly and young population  Meanwhile, Anoma*, a housewife and a freelance graphic designer, noted that managing her household’s nutrient requirements has become an uphill battle since she and her husband have had to feed not only their three children but also two elderly parents who require nutritious food.  “My children are five, seven, and nine years old, and they need nutritious food for growth at this age. Also, my mother and my husband’s father, both of whom are over 80 years, live with us, and they also require nutritious food due to their age and related health reasons. They need different types of milk powder, fruits and vegetables, different types of meat, and also various vitamins (as pills). My husband and I have had to cut down on other expenses and ensure that our children and parents have the food they need. However, we are very anxious about the coming few months, because the cost of living does not seem to be reducing or stabilising. To make matters worse, the Government has completely given up on controlling inflation and has given businessmen the power to control food prices. A nutritious meal is becoming a luxury normal people cannot afford and eating something to fill our bellies has become the norm.”  She added that if the prevailing situation continues for a few more years, which she said is highly likely, the elderly population will be easy victims of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), while the young generation will be a malnourished generation. While affording a nutritious meal has become a challenge to many, the truth is, it will take time for these challenges to come to an end. Until then, the people will have to look at alternative food items and alternative eating habits to survive the cost of food prices without being victims of malnutrition and disease.  *Names have been changed on request


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