Trends in Urban and Rural Food Consumption and Implications for Food Policies in Tunisia

Abstract

Between 1965 and 1985, 4 national surveys of food intakes were made among urban and rural populations in Tunisia. The traditional Tunisian diet is characterized by a high intake of durum wheat and olive oil, a moderate and uneven intake of mutton, eggs and milk and a very varied intake of vegetables and fruit. In recent years there has been a large increase in the consumption of imported soft wheat flour in the form of bakery products and a fall in the consumption of durum especially in urban areas. Intake of mutton, beef, poultry, fish, milk and yoghurt has increased. Change in intake of vegetables and fruit has been less pronounced. Intake of energy, fat, vegetable protein, iron and thiamin has become greater in rural than urban areas as a result of the decrease in intake of durum wheat in urban areas. Intake of animal protein, fat, vitamin A and vitamin C has increased in urban areas. Mean body weights of urban men and women were greater than for their rural counterparts.