The cost of a healthy and sustainable diet – who can afford it?
Authors: Barosh L et al.
Summary:
These researchers recorded the cost of both a typical basket
of food and a hypothetical healthy and sustainable (H&S) basket in five
neighbourhoods that differed by food sub-systems, socioeconomic levels
and household income levels in Greater Western Sydney, Australia. The
affordability of the baskets was determined across household income
quintiles. In all five neighbourhoods, the cost of the H&S basket was
more than the typical basket. The most socioeconomically disadvantaged
neighbourhood spent proportionately more (30%) to buy the H&S basket.
Within household income levels, the greatest inequity was found in the
middle income neighbourhood, with households in the lowest income
quintile having to spend up to 48% of their weekly income to buy the H&S
basket, while households in the highest income quintile would have to spend
significantly less of their weekly income (9%).
Reference: Aust N Z J Public Health 2014;38(1):7-12
Abstract
Sites of institutional racism in public health policy making in New Zealand
Authors: Came H
Summary:
This paper critically evaluated public health policy making in
New Zealand during the period 2009 through 2011. Using a mixed methods
approach and critical anti-racism scholarship, the study author identified
compelling evidence from multiple sources confirming institutional racism
within five specific sites of Crown policy making. These sites include
majoritarian decision making, the misuse of evidence, deficiencies in both
cultural competencies and consultation processes and the impact of Crown
filters. The paper concludes that “these findings suggest the failure of
quality assurance systems, existing anti-racism initiatives and health sector
leadership to detect and eliminate racism”.
Reference: Soc Sci Med 2014;106:214-220
Abstract