Examining Economic Hurdles to the Affordability of a Healthy Diet in Tanzania

Abstract

Tanzania has made significant strides in improving the cost of accessing a healthy diet to enhance health for economic growth. However, it was determined that around 59% of households experience difficulties with affordable access to healthy food, thus prohibiting the expansion of dietary options. This study thus sought to investigate the economic hurdles to the affordability of a healthy diet in Tanzania from 2010 to 2023, specifically to: (i) visualize trends and correlations between the people who cannot afford a healthy diet and socioeconomic indices; (ii) estimate the overall and specific food category costs of a healthy diet, and (iii) compute econometric coefficients related to economic barriers to affordability of a healthy diet. Using descriptive statistics and ordinary least squares (OLS) linear regression models on a panel dataset, the study found significant changes in socioeconomic status over the period. The number of people unable to afford a nutritious diet increased from 30.7 million (53%) in 2010 to 57.2 million in 2023. Despite a decrease in poverty and unemployment rates, the affordability issue persisted due to a 31% rise in the cost of a healthy diet, from $1.988 to $2.866. GDP per capita nearly doubled from $878 to $1,742, indicating economic growth; however, this increase was outpaced by the rising costs of a nutritious diet, reducing actual purchasing power. Urbanization rates increased from 27.4% to 36.4%, potentially contributing to higher living costs. Literacy rates improved from 73% to 93.5%, yet did not significantly impact food affordability. Inflation rates decreased from 7.19% to 4%, suggesting price stability, but this did not address the high cost of a healthy diet. The overall cost of a nutritious diet rose from $1.988 in 2010 to $2.903 in 2023. Animal-based foods consistently had the highest share of diet expenses, followed by starchy staples, while the costs of fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables, oils, and fats showed minor increases. In addition, econometric analysis revealed that the macroeconomic challenges to affordable healthy food include inflation, unemployment, poverty level, household income, and the expense of a healthy diet at a probability level of P < 0. 05. The paper recommends directing capital towards the livestock and agricultural production of foodstuffs in a bid to bring down food production costs and therefore retail prices for the improvement of the dietary policy in Tanzania.