Where Cost of Food Hits Hardest: Investigation of Diet Cost and Affordability in a Low Socioeconomic Region of Australia

作者：Samantha Dean, Meron Lewis, Karen Walton, Katherine Kent, Karen Charlton · 发表于：Health Promotion Journal of Australia · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1002/hpja.70092 · 被引用次数：3 · 研究领域：Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations、Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet、Social Issues and Policies

INTRODUCTION: Residents in the Fowler electorate of NSW, Australia experience high socioeconomic disadvantage and may therefore be vulnerable to food insecurity. This study aimed to assess the cost, cost differential and affordability of recommended and current diets for various household structures in this electorate. METHODS: This study applied the low socioeconomic group Healthy Diets Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing protocol. Food and beverage prices, including both 'popular brand' and 'cheapest alternative' options, were collected from 43 outlets in five locations across Fowler using standardised recommended and current diet pricing tools. Fortnightly diet costs and the differential between both diets and pricing options were calculated for a family of four, a single-parent family and a single male. Diet affordability was assessed against low-minimum wage and welfare-dependent household incomes, characterising diet costs as causing 'food stress' or being 'unaffordable' if exceeding 25% and 30% of household income, respectively. RESULTS: Recommended diets were less expensive than current diets for all households by 9%-31%. Pricing 'cheapest alternatives' reduced both diet costs by 30%-34%. For 'popular brands', recommended and current diets required 13%-34% and 19%-42% of household income, respectively, while 'cheapest alternatives' required 9%-23% and 13%-28% of household income, respectively. Recommended and current diets priced with 'popular brands' we...