basic foods

Home / basic foods

Price hikes, health plunges: How rising food costs take a toll on South Africans

News

South Africa could see more undernutrition and obesity cases when the health impacts of rising food prices start to reveal themselves. Social justice activists, health experts and economists agree that the high cost of living jeopardises the health of…

NdivhuwoMukwevho
March 3, 2023

Strawberry flavoured HIV drug for little ones welcomed

When breast is not enough, the right complementary foods are important

News, Opinion and Editorial

Global food price hikes may push parents to introduce cheaper meal options like maize meal, but they might incur longer costs, such as stunting because of poor nutrient intake. South Africa is not immune: recent reports from the Eastern…

solomon-makwela
November 30, 2022

Fresh fruit and vegetables on sale in Cape Town

Some food prices actually dropped in January, but people are short of cash

News

Potatoes may be cheaper but the price of ginger and garlic has surged due to home remedies to boos the immune system. The pandemic led to record highs for food prices in 2020, and even as prices dip, South Africans can't afford it.

Soligah
February 3, 2021

Arthur Ramoroka Nutritionist Tiger Brands

The link between Covid-19, food labeling and obesity

News

Research just released by a South African food company shows that more than 50% of respondents say they gained weight during the Covid-19 lockdown – but it also shows that more people are starting to read food labels properly.

healthe
December 7, 2020

Pensioner’s backyard garden feeds his family

Our Health

A pensioner in the North West created his vegetable 20 years ago. Since then, it has gone a long way to feed his family, he says.

Graeme
November 8, 2019

‘I have never slept on an empty stomach’

Our Health

Each person takes home a packet of vegetables every day and the money maintains many families.

Teboho
November 5, 2019

School meals. School Nutrition Programme Resumption

School food declared safe but probe into pupils’ deaths continues

News

After two Mpumalanga pupils died of suspected food poisoning last month the school nutrition programme in the province has been declared safe, but some parents are not satisfied.

cynthiamaseko
August 20, 2019

Could eating insects make for a healthier diet?

Our Health

More of a novelty than a star ingredient, insects are in fact nutrient-rich. Yet it has fallen off many a menu, despite its health benefits.

Ndivhuwo Mukwevho
August 1, 2019

From the farm to the table

Our Health

An organic farmer has started a farming movement in Soweto townships that support 5 000 children from 12 schools, 80 pensioners and other people from the community.

Marcia Zali
June 18, 2019

Never too old to eat healthily

Our Health

MPUMALANGA – A rural grandmother who turned to a healthy lifestyle after a massive health scare wants others to follow her lead before it is too late.

cynthiamaseko
March 12, 2019

Never too old to eat healthily

Our Health

MPUMALANGA – A rural grandmother who turned to a healthy lifestyle after a massive health scare wants others to follow her lead before it is too late.

Cynthia Maseko
March 12, 2019

Thousands go hungry after mismanagement of food relief

News

While the Gauteng government investigates corruption in the running of its food banks, those who rely on these banks are going hungry.

thabo-molelekwa
September 3, 2018

Wasting food while others are hungry

News

In South Africa, an average of 12 million people (almost a quarter of the population) go to bed hungry every night – yet our country has the largest proportion of food wastage in Africa.

jamesthabo
June 20, 2018

Tormented by peers, children choose to go hungry

News, Our Health

Children, especially in rural areas, are turning away from school feeding schemes because they fear being judged for being poor by their fellow learners, despite being hungry. HEALTH-E NEWS spoke to learners and experts about the stigma of hunger and its effect on children's health and education.

Amy Green, Amy Green, Amy Green and Amy Green
May 7, 2018

Basic foods increase by 15 percent

News

The price of basic foods eaten by low-income households has increased by 15 percent in the past year, and many households cannot get through the month any longer.

kerrycullinan
October 14, 2016

Newsletter Subscription