How do food safety concerns affect consumer behaviors and diets in low- and middle-income countries? A systematic review

Abstract

Both food safety and dietary behaviors are major contributors to the global burden of disease, especially in rapidly urbanising environments. The impact that food safety concerns have on dietary behaviors in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is insufficiently documented. Therefore, we examined whether food safety concerns influence consumer behaviors/diets in LMICs. A systematic review identified 46 relevant studies from 20 LMICs for inclusion. A socio-ecological food environment framework was used to map food safety factors that influence consumer behaviors (food acquisition/purchase, eating out of home, food preparation/storage) and diets (consumption of nutrient rich/poor foods). Several studies (n = 11) reported that despite food safety concerns, consumers could not always ensur