TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose The purpose of this paper is to offer an overview of dietary transition patterns and a discussion of the food-related health issues in China.Design/methodology/approach The paper builds on a review of the existing literature on food consumption and diet changes in China, and highlights with specific attention to increasing food consumed away from home, the rising demand for fast and processed foods, and the popularizing of western-style foods in Chinese diets.Findings China’s food consumption patterns rapidly transitioned from one in which grains and vegetables dominated to one having more animal products and more diversification. More foods are consumed away from home and in the form of fast and processed. Income growth played and will continue to play a critical role in shifting the structure of food consumption. On the other hand, China is on a fast track from a lean population to one in which being overweight or obese. The associations between health outputs and food transitions, however, are inconclusive.Originality/value The main findings of this study have implications for better understanding the key trends and driving forces of China’s food demand system. Moreover, the results from this review are essential for food-related policymaking in many emerging economies where coexistence of undernutrition, deficiency of micronutrients and overweight and obesity is a common challenge to the society and individual households.
VL  - 11
IS  - 1
SN  - 1756-137X
DO  - 10.1108/CAER-12-2017-0254
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/CAER-12-2017-0254
AU  - Yuan Ming
AU  - Seale Jr James Lawrence
AU  - Wahl Thomas
AU  - Bai Junfei
PY  - 2018
Y1  - 2018/01/01
TI  - The changing dietary patterns and health issues in China
T2  - China Agricultural Economic Review
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 143
EP  - 159
Y2  - 2024/05/11
ER  -