Social Inequalities in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Algerian Households

Abstract

The consumption of fruits and vegetables is considered a public health priority by numerous organizations and is subject to global nutritional recommendations from the FAO and WHO. Their program's well-known recommendation to "eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily" is often cited but rarely followed by consumers.

Three key arguments support the health benefits of fruits and vegetables: their contribution to micronutrient intake necessary for proper bodily function, their protective effect against major chronic diseases such as cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and metabolic diseases (including diabetes), as well as certain cancers, and their low energy content, which is increasingly critical given the rapid rise of overweight and obesity.

In Algeria, the debate surrounding the population’s dietary and nutritional issues has long been open but remains unresolved, even for the foreseeable future. Given the country's inherent predisposition to dietary imbalances, significant disparities persist. This context motivated us to select social class as a parameter for analyzing a year-long survey (from March to February) conducted among Algerian households across four regions (Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern Algeria).

This study seeks to answer the following question: What role do fruits and vegetables play in Algerian households’ diets according to social class?

The survey revealed that the average fruit and vegetable consumption is below the 400 grams per day recommended by the WHO. Distribution analysis indicates that approximately 60% of surveyed individuals fall below this benchmark. In terms of consumption frequency, adherence to the "at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily" guideline is observed in only a small fraction of the sample (less than 5% according to the survey).