Survey Indicates High Consumption of Imported Foods

by Amy Levendusky

A dietary assessment carried out in August 2005, in Mand, Madolenihmw, revealed that only 27% of the energy consumed by the adult female participants was from local food, the rest provided by imports. Among children an even smaller proportion of the energy consumed was from local foods (16%).

These results are from a random sample survey, conducted as part of the project entitled "Documentation of the Traditional Food System of Pohnpei" sponsored by the Island Food Community of Pohnpei. Yumiko Paul, of Pohnpei Department of Health, Welsey Hagilmai, of COM/FSM Land Grant, and Pelihna Moses of Mand Community served as the interviewers, assisted by Douglas Nelber, Department of Land and Natural Resources. In collecting the data, a 24-hour recall method was used (asking adult participants to recall each food/drink item consumed in the past 24 hours and the amount, and to provide this information as proxies for their children). Data from 44 adult women and 27 children (aged 1-10 years) were obtained for two non-consecutive days.

The survey revealed that rice and fish were the two food items most frequently consumed by the women, followed by flour products (donuts, pancakes, bread and ramen), chicken and other meats, and banana and breadfruit (this was in the heart of the breadfruit season). Vegetables and fruits were not commonly consumed.

The survey also revealed that 62% of the protein consumed by the women was from imported sources. The levels of protein were sufficient but were far over the estimated requirements. The mean intake of protein for non-lactating (not breastfeeding) females was 109 grams per day, but the estimated requirement is only 45 grams.

On the other hand, vitamin intakes were very low. This puts the women and children at risk to infection and other health problems. The mean intake for the non-lactating female adults was 225 Retinol Equivalents (RE) (vitamin A is expressed by the combination of retinol from animal sources and provitamin A carotenoid from plant sources), but the estimated requirement for that group is 500 RE! Almost none of the children met the estimated requirements. Also very few of the children met estimated requirements for vitamin C. Only 63% of the non-lactating females met the estimated vitamin C requirements, the lactating adults doing better, 83% of them meeting the estimated requirements.

IFCP would like to thank the Mand community for making this project possible. We would also like to thank our collaborating partners including the Pohnpei Office of Economic Affairs, COM/FSM Land Grant, Department of Health, Department of Land and Natural Resources. Thanks are also extended to the Office of Economic Affairs and the Secretary of the Pacific Community (SPC) Pacific German Regional Forestry Project (PGRFP) for providing transport to the village and to the Centre of Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment (CINE), PGRFP, and Sight and Life for support funds and materials.