Thursday
June 16, 2011
June 16, 2011
By JAMES KARIUKI kariuki@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Wednesday, June 15 2011 at 22:24
Posted Wednesday, June 15 2011 at 22:24
The rising cost of living is forcing many Kenyans to change their diet, according to a global food survey.
Global Scan Incorporated, an International Research Agency, says 79 per cent of Kenyans have changed their diet due to rising food prices.
This is the highest percentage to make such change in the world.
The survey, sanctioned by Oxfam and released on Wednesday, notes that out of the 16,000 people interviewed in urban and rural regions, only 23 per cent believe changes in weather patterns have adversely affected food production, leading to low supply in major markets.
“While 75 per cent of Kenyans are no longer eating the same food they did two years ago, only a paltry 4 per cent changed their diet due to health concerns. Some 57 per cent of them said they do not always have enough to eat,” the report says.
The food survey covered Kenya, Tanzania, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Spain, UK and the USA.
In the 18 countries, an average of 39 per cent of those interviewed have changed their diet due to increased food prices.
In Kenya, some eateries have reduced the portions served to customers as a way to keep the price low and remain in business while some unscrupulous traders have tampered with the machines used to weigh foodstuff.
Many civil servants have opted to skip lunch in hotels and instead carry packed meals while lunch-hour prayer meetings are recording an influx of attendees.
Oxfam executive director Jeremy Hobbs called on leaders, especially of the G20 countries, to act now and fix the food prices so that people in poor countries do not cut back on the quantity and quality of the food they eat.
“Our diets are changing fast and for too many people it is a change for the worst,” he said.
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