TY - JOUR
T1 - Cost and affordability of healthy, more sustainable and equitable diets in the Torres Strait Islands
AU - Lee, Amanda
AU - Patay, Dori
AU - Summons, Susannah
AU - Lewis, Meron
AU - Herron, Lisa-Maree
AU - Nona, Francis
AU - Canuto, Condy
AU - Ferguson, Megan
AU - Twist, Aletia
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Objectives: To assess the cost, cost differential and affordability of current and recommended
(healthy, equitable, culturally acceptable and more sustainable) diets in the Torres Strait Islands
and compare with other Queensland locations.
Methods: The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healthy Diets ASAP (Australian Standardised
Affordability and Pricing) methods protocol was applied in five randomly selected communities
in the Torres Strait Islands.
Results: The current diet was 32% more expensive than that recommended; ‘discretionary’
foods comprised 64% of the current diet cost. Families could save at least A$281.38 a fortnight
by switching to recommended diets. However, these cost 35-40% more than elsewhere in
Queensland. Recommended diets would cost 35% of median and 48% of welfare household
income in the Torres Straits.
Conclusions: While less expensive than the current diet, recommended diets are unaffordable
for most households. Consequently, many Torres Strait Islander families are at high risk of food
insecurity and diet-related disease.
Implications for public health: Urgent policy action is required to further lower the relative
price of recommended diets, and also increase household incomes and welfare supplements
to equitably improve food security and diet-related health, and contribute to environmental
sustainability in the Torres Strait Islands.
AB - Objectives: To assess the cost, cost differential and affordability of current and recommended
(healthy, equitable, culturally acceptable and more sustainable) diets in the Torres Strait Islands
and compare with other Queensland locations.
Methods: The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healthy Diets ASAP (Australian Standardised
Affordability and Pricing) methods protocol was applied in five randomly selected communities
in the Torres Strait Islands.
Results: The current diet was 32% more expensive than that recommended; ‘discretionary’
foods comprised 64% of the current diet cost. Families could save at least A$281.38 a fortnight
by switching to recommended diets. However, these cost 35-40% more than elsewhere in
Queensland. Recommended diets would cost 35% of median and 48% of welfare household
income in the Torres Straits.
Conclusions: While less expensive than the current diet, recommended diets are unaffordable
for most households. Consequently, many Torres Strait Islander families are at high risk of food
insecurity and diet-related disease.
Implications for public health: Urgent policy action is required to further lower the relative
price of recommended diets, and also increase household incomes and welfare supplements
to equitably improve food security and diet-related health, and contribute to environmental
sustainability in the Torres Strait Islands.
U2 - 10.1111/1753-6405.13225
DO - 10.1111/1753-6405.13225
M3 - Article
SN - 1326-0200
VL - 46
SP - 340
EP - 345
JO - Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
JF - Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
IS - 3
ER -