Evolution of the nutritional and food situation of the metropolitan area of San Jose, Costa Rica]

Evolution of food and nutrient intake patterns in urban San José, Costa Rica, during the last decade, was studied comparing data from the last two national surveys (1978, 1982) and 1987 data obtained from 5 families previously included in the 1982 survey. Total food and nutrient intake was found to be similar to the 1982 results, although the pattern was altered, with a substantial decreased contribution of milk products to both energy and protein intakes. A small but constant decrease in the intake of more than half of the foods registered was also observed. Nevertheless, the nutritional adequacy of energy (from 100 to 78%), retinol (from 83 to 69%), riboflavin (from 94 to 63%), iron (from 106 to 69%) and niacin (from 103 to 81%), were found to be significantly lower than in previous years. The findings herein reported suggest that the effects of the economic crisis initiated in 1980 on food availability, could well be showing a time lag.