Food consumption patterns in Pakistan are changing in line with increasing per capita income and urbanisation. Currently by nearly three quarters of the diet (by weight) is made up of cereals and milk products.
In the last decade consumption has shifted to include high vegetable oil, meat, fruits and vegetables.
The increase in vegetable oil is dramatic and is thought to be associated with imports and low price policies as well as growing per capita income. Sweeteners consumption is also associated with per capita income but has remained relatively stable.
In the cooking group vegetable oil has been replacing desi ghee. Lower production of vegetable oil and the inconvenience of making ghee are apparently responsible for reduced use of desi ghee.
In the sweeteners group refined white sugar is replacing other sweeteners mainly on account of rapid expansion of sugar industrial units.
As the food consumption pattern shifts more towards meat in diet, the preferences among meals are clearly observed. Mutton was till recently preferred followed closely by chicken and fish.
But the consumption of mutton has now per force gone down due to its high prices. Beef because of its comparatively lower prices is more in use in the diet presently.
Between fish and chicken it is fish which is being used more due to revolutionary expansion of its industry. Fish and eggs, due to unstable prices, are getting an important place in the average human diet. Desi eggs production is declining and may be washed away soon.
Pulses, having considerable nutritional value make the human diet rich from the health point of view.
But their lower production has made them a diet for the rich instead for poor as in the past. All said and done it is concluded that change in food habits is closely inter-linked with income and supply of commodities.
The menace of adulteration is also rampant which is a health hazard which should be tackled with iron hands.