The Effect of Mexican Household Food Security Status and Income Distribution on Food Access.

We studied how income distribution and food security status are related to the quality and quantity of foods consumed by Mexican households. Methods: First, we analyzed current expenditure on eleven food groups across food security levels stratified by income quintiles and food security status, based on 2010 National Income and Expenditure Surveys. Second, we designed and budgeted two 2,000-calorie-per-day diets which cover the daily nutritional requirements of the Mexican population to observe, based on the current income data from the surveys, which households could purchase such diets. Results: Those households that spent the most on food are also those that invest the smallest percentage of their income on food. Monthly per capita expenditure was greater on most food groups in food secure (FS) households and decreased as food insecurity worsened. Statistical analyses of current expenditure on food groups revealed statistically significant differences across income quintiles and food security levels (p<0.05). The standard diet's weekly cost was US$44.89 per person. Households with an average weekly income per capita (US$71.17) and those in the fourth (US$65.25) and fifth (US$181.27) quintiles could afford it, but those in the first (US$14.0), second (US$27.59), and third (US$42.75) quintiles could not. We designed a special diet for low-income groups, with a weekly cost of US$17.79 per person, which could not be afforded by households in the first quintile, even when all their income went to food. Discussion: Based on a descriptive analysis we found that income barriers and food insecurity are related to limited access to nutritious foods and diets among Mexican households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]