Dieticians warn high cost of living may lead to poor diets

Australians may be forced to embrace low-quality, cheap diets as fresh and nutritious foods become more expensive, warns Dieticians Australia. The prediction comes with the Australian Government’s release of its latest Consumer Price Index report, which shows a steadily rising cost for consumers, with fresh foods costing more than processed ones.

“The reality of our situation is that a box of 10 chicken nuggets from a fast-food outlet is currently cheaper than an iceberg lettuce,” said Chief Executive Officer of Dietitians Australia Robert Hunt. “Who would blame a family with $5 for choosing one over the other?

“This is a systemic problem where highly marketed, nutrient-poor and energy-dense foods are often seemingly cheaper and more accessible than fresh nutritious options.

“Each year in Australia, 27,500 people will die a preventable death due to unhealthy eating. The situation was already bad before, and if things keep going this way it will only get worse.”

Dieticians Australia, which represents accredited dieticians in Australia, is recommending that the next government adopt its National Nutrition Policy, something that has already been endorsed by the Greens and LNP. The policy makes suggestions for updating how the government approaches nutrition in order to bring about healthier diets.

The organisation points to government vouchers for takeaway food, whose implementation the Australian Bureau of Statistics notes has thus far kept food costs down for consumers, as proof that government intervention may be a viable pathway to ensure that Australian consumers have healthy diets.

“This is evidence that government can influence the way people eat, and that government can make healthy food more affordable, it just has to choose to do so,” Hunt said.

“People who experience greater social disadvantage through relative lack of opportunity in education, employment and income suffer increased risk of malnutrition, food insecurity and diet-related chronic disease.

“These are all factors that can be addressed through a National Nutrition Policy framework to ensure equitable and affordable access to nutritious food for all Australians.”

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Destina