International Food Institute: 85% of Egyptians have reduced their meat intake, and the train of inflation shocks the poor (Rassd) 

Rassad published a long piece on the results of a study conducted by (IFPRI) the International Food Policy Research Institute.  IFPRI conducted a survey of more than 6,000 poor and semi-poor households from all over Egypt by phone in October and November 2022. The researchers wanted to know how households dealt with food insecurity, food prices, and food-related shocks. Egypt, the world's largest importer of wheat and a country dependent on food imports makes it particularly vulnerable. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia highlighted Egypt's dilemma.  Since then, supply disruptions, high world market prices, and other factors have led to a sharp rise in domestic food inflation. 

The survey indicated that many poor households have reduced their consumption of some unsubsidized nutritious foods while consumption of subsidized foods remained unaffected, indicating the important role of the National Food Subsidy Program. It also found eighty-five percent of families reported reducing meat consumption and 75 percent reduced consumption of chicken and eggs, which is logical given the large increases in the prices of these items. Unfortunately, these are nutritious food groups that provide major sources of protein, indicating a possible decrease in diet quality. Fish and milk are also important sources of protein and other nutrients, the prices of which have also increased significantly. 

To learn more about the results from the survey, read Food price shocks and diets among poor households in Egypt. 

Republished in UAE News Wrap.