Characterising ‘obesogenic’ versus ‘protective’ food consumption and their value chain among Ghanaian households

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Abstract Objectives: This article explores the characteristics of Ghanaian households’ consumption of obesogenic v . protective foods, including their retail, distribution and origin. Design: A household food consumption survey was conducted using an adapted Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology study FFQ. Product pathways for selected obesogenic (processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and biscuits) and protective (cooked vegetables, legumes and fish) foods were traced from retailers through distributors/wholesalers to producers. Setting: Rural and urban communities in the Ashanti Region and selected retail/wholesale/producers nationwide. Participants: 612 households, 209 retailers and 185 wholesalers/distributors. Results: About 20 % of households consume SSB and confectionery weekly, and just 2 % consumed processed meat. Of the protective foods, fish had the highest proportion of households consuming weekly (74·5 %), followed by cooked vegetables (53·1 %) and legumes (22·8 %). Frequent SSB consumption is higher in younger ( P < 0·001), male ( P = 0·010), urban ( P < 0·001) and more educated ( P < 0·001) food purchaser households. Below 10 % of households followed the healthiest dietary pattern (high-protective-and-low-obesogenic) but higher in older and more educated food purchaser households. In contrast, most households (about 80 %) consumption patterns did not discriminate between obesogenic and protective foods. Generally, characteristics of purchasers from retail/wholesale outlets agree with those of households, where obesogenic foods were retailed to younger, less educated buyers than older, more educated ones. While the protective foods had a strong local producer presence, the obesogenic foods were predominantly imported. Conclusion: Household consumption and retail/distribution of obesogenic foods are associated with socio-demographic characteristics, but obesogenic foods are almost entirely produced outside Ghana. Policies that regulate importation on health grounds can promote a healthier food environment.

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