Changes in household food purchases in Iran: income and urban–rural inequality

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BACKGROUND: Regular monitoring of nutritional indicators serves as an early warning system for policymakers and is essential for the effective governance of food security. This study presents the first 18-year trend analysis of changes in Iranian household food purchases, with a specific focus on inequalities across income deciles and between urban and rural areas in Iran. METHODS: Data from the Statistical Center of Iran (2005-2022) were analyzed. Six major food groups, calories, and macronutrients derived from household purchases were examined. Linear regression, with year as a continuous predictor, was performed using SPSS (p < 0.05 considered significant). Data processing and figure generation were conducted using Microsoft Access 2016 and Excel 2016, respectively. RESULTS: Over the 18-year study period, per capita purchases of all major food groups declined in both urban and rural areas. Urban-rural disparities in household food purchases, as well as the associated estimated calorie and macronutrient quantities, narrowed. Furthermore, although higher-income households consistently purchased more of most food groups (except cereals) than lower-income households, these income-based inequalities also diminished over time. CONCLUSION: Although nutritional inequalities in Iran have decreased in recent years, the simultaneous decline in overall household food purchases calls for more rigorous research on the subject. Analyzing long-term trends in household food purchase-based nutritional indicators is a critical scientific and policy priority for evaluating programs and designing evidence-based policies.

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