THE SOCIAL CLASS MYTH OF COLLECTIVISM: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL CLASS ON FAMILIES MEAL INTERACTION BEHAVIOUR

The class distinction in the Sierra Leonean society is the primary determinant of families access to a balanced diet as well as the level of social interaction at mealtimes. The income earned by families, their status in society, level of education and the type of job they do, significantly determines the type of food they consume. This implies that, social class can act as the arbiter to families access not only to adequate, but quality food. It also influences the food variety available at mealtimes. The study shows that, many Sierra Leonean families experience the problem of daily food affordability challenges, which limits social interaction at the dinner table at mealtimes. Nevertheless, the findings also show that, irrespective of the social standing of families, table etiquette are important to the different social classes, as it provides the foundation for training and socialising children into becoming responsible adults.

Factors Influencing Food Preferences Among International Students in Universiti Putra Malaysia

Objectives This study aimed to determine factors influencing food preferences of international students in Universiti Putra Malaysia. Methods This was a cross-sectional study and a total number of 649 respondents were recruited by using random sampling method. A twenty-minute online questionnaire that consisted of seven different sections was used to determine socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, marital status, household composition, income, level of education, race and religion) physiological factors (attitudes and emotions), food environment, general acculturation, food choice motives, general nutrition knowledge (food groups and sources of nutrients in food and diseases related to diet and weight management) and food preference. The food preference questionnaire required participants to rate their preference of 77 food items on a Likert scale, ranging from dislike a lot to like a lot. Pearson and Spearman Correlation, one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test and multiple linear regression were applied to measure research objectives. Results The number of subjects recruited in this study was higher in males (60.7%) than females (39.1%). They were mainly Middle Eastern (37.2%) and Asian (33.8%) and marital status of respondents were mostly single (67%). The results showed that gender (β = −0.125, P = 0.001), food availability (β = 0.182, P < 0.001), food affordability (β = −0.165, P < 0.001), nutrition knowledge about diet/ill management (β = 0.257, P < 0.001), and food choice motives; price (β = 0.179, P < 0.001), weight control (β = −0.149, P = 0.001), health (β = 0.159, P < 0.001) and natural content (β = 0.250, P < 0.001) were significantly influenced on food preferences among international students in Universiti Putra Malaysia. Conclusions Food availability and food affordability, food choice motives and general nutrition knowledge emerged as prominent factors that influence food preferences of international students in Universiti Putra Malaysia. Therefore, further study is needed to understand how these factors influence other international students throughout Malaysia. Funding Sources None.

Drivers of food consumption among overweight mother-child dyads in Malawi

To address the increase in overweight and obesity among mothers and children in sub-Saharan Africa, an understanding of the factors that drive their food consumption is needed. We hypothesized food consumption in Malawi is driven by a combination of factors, including season, food accessibility (area of residence, convenience of purchasing food, female autonomy), food affordability (household resources, food expenditures, household food insecurity), food desirability (taste preferences, body size preferences), demographics, and morbidity. Participants in Lilongwe and Kasungu Districts were enrolled across three types of mother-child dyads: either the mother (n = 120), child (n = 80), or both (n = 74) were overweight. Seven-day dietary intake was assessed using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire during the dry and rainy seasons. Drivers associated with intake of calories, macronutrients, and 11 food groups at p<0.1 in univariate models were entered into separate multivariate linear regression models for each dietary intake outcome. Mother-child dyads with an overweight child had a higher percent of calories from carbohydrates and lower percent of calories from fat compared to dyads with a normal weight child (both p<0.01). These mothers also had the highest intake of grains (p<0.01) and their children had the lowest intake of oil/fat (p = 0.01). Household food insecurity, maternal taste preferences, and maternal body size preferences were the most consistent predictors of food group consumption. Household food insecurity was associated with lower intake of grains, fruits, meat and eggs, oil/fat, and snacks. Maternal taste preferences predicted increased consumption of grains, legumes/nuts, vegetables, fish, and oil/fat. Maternal body size preferences for herself and her child were associated with consumption of grains, legumes/nuts, dairy, and sweets. Predictors of food consumption varied by season, across food groups, and for mothers and children. In conclusion, indicators of food affordability and desirability were the most common predictors of food consumption among overweight mother-child dyads in Malawi.

Food Affordability and Economic Growth

The conducted correlation-andregression analysis revealed a close inverse connection between the functional characteristic "share of the expenditures for food and non-alcoholic beverages in the structure of the total expenditures of the households" and the factorial characteristic "GDP per capita by purchasing power parity, at constant prices". The response of the share of food expenditures in the structure of the total expenditures of the households to per capita GDP growth corresponds to the law of diminishing returns. The pattern is manifested in the long-term period.

Casual Nexus Between Dynamics of Population and Food Security: Economic Benchmarks for Agriculture

Food security and dynamics of population have a dual connection. Firstly, a rapid rise in the population size increases a demand for food. Secondly, a lack of food affordability and availability implies negative dynamics of population. The latter issue observed in Ukraine highlighted the goal of this research. The methodological study background was econometrics and cluster comparative analysis. The considered time series covered the period 1999 to 2018. The accessible cross-sectional data included 90 countries. The research outcome in the form of multiple regressions allowed forecasting the objective values of expenditures on food, income per capita, and daily protein intakes which could retain a stable population size. The offered EU and World Top benchmarks involved the GDP indicator, balance between crop and animal food supplies, medium age, and share of rural population by country. These findings made possible to set prospects of amplifying Ukrainian food security and improving population dynamics.

Smart Agri-Preneurship Dimensions and Food Affordability

This research sought to investigate the effect of smart Agri-preneurship dimensions on food affordability in South-West, Nigeria. Diverse literature confirmed positions of scholarly discourse regarding the relationship between smart Agri-preneurship dimensions and food affordability. Cross-sectional research design was adopted while adopted questionnaire was used to source primary data. Duly registered Agri-preneurs in South-West Nigeria were selected with a population of (2,557). Cochran, Hatzes, Butler, and Marcy formula (1997) was adopted and a reliable and valid questionnaire was tested on 558 Agri-preneurs. The regressed constructs revealed a positive and significant effect of smart Agri-preneurship on food affordability. The findings indicated that smart Agri-preneurship dimensions have positive and significant effect on food affordability (Adj.R2 = 0.602, F (6,551) = 141.319, p=0.000). The study concludes that farmers should embrace smart Agri-preneurial technologies as innovations that could improve their farm yields, hence reduce the cost of production and make food output more affordable. The study recommends that the government should engage Agri-preneurs and provide partnerships that would be beneficial in improving food affordability opportunities through the adoption of smart technologies.

Who gets to decide what’s in my fridge? Principles for transforming the ‘invisible rules’ shaping the regulation of food habits in urban spaces

This chapter focuses on the forms of regulation that shape food habits in ways that we are often unaware of. Here, the chapter presents some of the results of a co-produced research project that explored how people experience the regulation of food habits in their communities. It explores the notion of food justice, which seeks to embed discussion of food regulation in attention to the spatial dimensions of food access. The chapter points to the ways in which the project sought to make visible invisible rules and to develop processes of ‘commoning’ in order to address the spatial inequalities of urban food spaces. It then challenges notions of ‘cheapness’ and instead present ideas of food affordability. Finally, this chapter establishes the building blocks for a ‘more-than-food policy’ by demonstrating the importance of working with assets rather than deficits.