The cost of food in a wholesome diet

Kornelius Wagner, Kurt Gedrich, Georg Karg, München

The paper deals with the question as to whether a wholesome diet is more expensive than conventional diets and whether a wholesome diet is affordable for low-income groups.

Food quantities recommended by the German Society for Nutrition and the data of a random sample of incomes and consumption of 2003 were used to calculate the expenditure for food in a wholesome diet and compared to those for food in a conventional diet. Expenses for food and meals consumed outside of one’s home, for purchasing/transport, storage, preparation or waste removal were not taken into account.

Accordingly, on a nation-wide average (basic EVS) the expenses for food in a usual diet are by 30 % lower than those for food in a wholesome diet. In a usual diet, however, greater amounts are spent for “meat and sausages” and “other food” compared to a wholesome diet as recommended by DGE.

Keywords: wholesome diet, preventive nutrition, food prices, random sample of incomes and consumption, DGE nutritional recommendations, Giessen wholesome nutrition study.

Sie finden den Artikel in deutscher Sprache in Ernährungs Umschau 04/08 ab Seite 216.