Title
Demand for healthier and higher-priced processed foods in low-income communities: Experimental evidence from Mexico City
Date Issued
01 January 2022
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Publisher(s)
Elsevier Ltd
Abstract
Diets in Mexico, like many countries, have changed dramatically in recent decades, with increased consumption of processed foods being a major factor. Research suggests that unhealthy diets in low-income communities reflect limited access to healthy foods, combined with high costs and limited knowledge. Weak demand signals from these communities likely disincentivise the food industry from delivering healthier, often costlier, options. This paper explores the potential to market healthy processed foods to these areas. We elicited willingness to pay (WTP) for healthier but relatively more expensive processed foods in low-income communities of Mexico City. We implemented a BDM mechanism to elicit WTP, with half of the participants randomly receiving information regarding nutritional content and health benefits. Results suggested that WTP was considerable among low-income groups but higher among higher-income groups within these communities. While, in general, providing nutrition and health information did not influence WTP, it was effective for those with strong preferences for the processed food category used in the study. WTP was highest among females and younger consumers, those who had a small family and children below 12 years in the household.
Volume
95
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Negocios, Administración
Nutrición, Dietética
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85113665739
Source
Food Quality and Preference
ISSN of the container
09503293
Source funding
Secretaría de Educación Pública
Sponsor(s)
This research was supported by the CGIAR Research Programs on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH) and Wheat Agri-food Systems (WHEAT). The first and second authors are grateful for the doctoral fellowship (217111) granted by the CONACYT and to the Netherlands – CGIAR Senior Experts Programme (SEP), grant number 17226; respectively. The funding sources were not involved in the research activities. We further thank participants at various seminars hosted by the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Wageningen University; and the CIMMYT for helpful comments; the study participants and local authorities that allowed data collection; Areli Trejo, Heilen Ocampo, Edson Mancilla and Daniel Cortes for their excellent assistance with data collection; and Joaquin Marron, Ana Fernandez and their collaborators for sharing their comments and data to improve the methods section.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus