Download full report All IssuesFood security is defined as a situation where “all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life” (World Food Summit, 1996). Food security objectives can only be achieved if attention is given all the pillars of food security (FAO, 2008; Wüstefeld, 2013): Availability, accessibility, utilisation and stability.
Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, instability and supply chain interruptions have been impacting food availability. Furthermore, household income pressure caused by the national lockdown, has become a reality of many South African households
With reduced spending indicated as a major coping mechanism to mitigate income pressure, reduced food spending could result in inadequate energy intake and / or reduced dietary diversity – detrimental to the nutritional quality of a household’s daily diet.
The BFAP Thrifty Healthy Food Basket (THFB) measures the cost of basic healthy eating for low-income households in the South African context.