- South African researchers bought 116 foods and compared their nutrient density to their cost.
- Vegetables and fruits topped the nutrient index, but were also the most expensive.
- Legumes like lentils and sugar beans were the absolute winners when it came to nutritional value per rand.
- For more stories, go to www.BusinessInsider.co.za.
Food prices are running above inflation, which means that new research on how to get the best nutritional value for your money has come at exactly the right time.
Scientists from the South African Medical Research Council (MRC) and the University of the Western Cape evaluated more than 100 foods from supermarket shelves and the winner was… legumes.
Lentils, sugar beans and split peas have the highest nutritional value per rand of any of the products the researchers monitored at Shoprite, Pick n Pay and Checkers.
Last in the league are fats, oils, foods high in fat and sugar, and foods and beverages high in sugar.
A 2003 government decision to improve nutrient intake by fortifying cornmeal and bread with vitamin A, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine thiamine, folate, iron and zinc has paid off, say scientists in the Journal of Nutritional Science .
“These fortified staple foods, which are widely consumed in South Africa, had the best nutritional value for cost within the starchy food group,” they say.
“Starchy foods generally had the lowest energy cost…but excessive consumption of these high-energy refined starches can lead to overweight and obesity.”
Food inflation reached 12.4% in December, according to Statistics SA, well above the general inflation rate of 7.2%. For oils and fats the inflation rate was 22.4% and for bread and cereals it was 20.6%.
“The basic food basket for low-income women consists mainly of starches (cornmeal, rice, cake flour, bread), white sugar, vegetable oil, beans and chicken, tea and seasonings, and is not nutritionally balanced” says the researchers
“Low-income groups often rely on cheaper, energy-rich foods that are high in saturated fat, trans fat, and added sugar, putting them at higher risk of becoming overweight/obese and developing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) related to Diet, and therefore food prices, contribute greatly to inadequate diets and malnutrition.
How to Grade Food Scientifically
The researchers created a 116-item food checklist based on the health department’s dietary guidelines and made sure it included items commonly eaten in poor households, as well as raw foods, prepared foods, and fortified products.
They used the MRC food composition database to assess the nutritional value of the amount of each food needed to provide 100 kilocalories of energy.
Their analysis focused on protein, fiber and seven nutrients that are low in the diets of South African adults: vitamin A, vitamin D, folic acid, iron, zinc, calcium and vitamin B6.
“Pulses had the best nutritional value for cost across all food groups,” said the team led by nutritionist Samukelisiwe Madlala from the MRC’s noncommunicable disease research unit.
“These foods are good sources of carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and various micronutrients, including iron, magnesium, and potassium. Pulses may be beneficial in preventing and controlling NCDs, as they can potentially reduce the risk of obesity and certain types of cancer.
“Since legumes are much lower in cost per 100 kcal compared to animal protein sources and have a higher nutrient density relative to cost, they would make a good substitute for protein and a more affordable option for consumers. low income”.
After legumes and fortified starches, the foods that offer the best nutritional value per rand are dairy products, vegetables, and fruits, and the group containing fish, poultry, meat, and eggs, particularly chicken giblets, eggs, sardines and low-fat fish.
Vegetables and fruits – particularly carrots, nutmeg and orange-fleshed sweet potato – it had the highest nutrient density of the foods tested, but the researchers say: “Vegetables and fruits are generally reported to be expensive. Although they have a zero VAT rate, the cost prevents the consumption of these foods among low-income households.
“The South African population consumes less than half the World Health Organization recommended daily intake of 400 g for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer. Low-income consumers are concerned about getting the most kilojoules per unit cost, and therefore it can be difficult to advise them to eat more fruits and vegetables.”
The researchers said they were concerned about the low cost of the less nutritious sweet and fatty foods in their survey, due to the weight gain and possible diabetes that follows overconsumption.
“People tend to eat foods that they can afford to buy,” they say. “In addition to being cheaper, unhealthy foods are often convenient and highly palatable compared to healthier foods that often require preparation skills and are less palatable.
“A healthier diet is often unaffordable for the majority of the South African population.”
