Chapter 2


1 Nutritional Requirements and Reference Nutrient Intakes

1.1 Introduction

The objective of food security as defined by FAO is to ensure that all people at all times have
both physical and economic access to the basic food they need. This can be expressed as three
specific goals: adequacy of food supplies; stability in food supplies; and security of access to
supplies. To assess the level of food security in a country, or region, or village or for specific
households and individuals, appropriate ways of measuring these complex concepts of
adequacy, stability and access have to be found. This chapter explains the most important
ways of measuring food consumption and nutritional status, as part of assessing food security.

Any system can be measured in two ways: measurements can be made of the state of any part
of the system; or measurements can be made of flows through the system. Alternatively,
indicators can be divided into indicators of process and indicators of outcome. Figure 1
contains a representation of the food system, showing important flow indicators and
indicators of the state of the system.

The flow variables shown are size and distribution of incomes, food supply as shown by food
balance sheets, household food consumption and individual food intake. Stock or situation
variables are national food stocks, household food stocks, household conditions for food
preparation and storage, clinical signs of malnutrition and anthropometric measurements.

These variables give us different kinds of information about the food system. Some variables
describe the macroeconomy, e.g. income distribution and food supply, others relate to the
household, food stocks and food consumption, and yet others are indicators of individual
status, food intake and anthropometric measurements. Some indicators give a more direct
picture of food security in a country, whereas others are more important for analysing factors
which modify the availability and use of food.

In this chapter, emphasis is on direct indicators of food consumption and nutritional status. In
particular, food balance sheets, household food consumption, individual intake and
anthropometric measurements will be examined from the technical perspective, and also in
terms of their interpretation. As Figure 2.1 shows, the relationship between these indicators is
complex and affected by non-food factors, as well as more direct elements of the food system.


-32 -