The phenomenon of globalization is having a major impact on food systems around the world.

Food systems are changing, resulting in greater availability and diversity of food, although
access to this food is by no means universal. Many of these changes are closely associated with
urbanization, increasing incomes, market liberalization and foreign direct investment.
Competition for a market share of food purchases tends to intensify with entry into the system of
powerful new players such as large multinational fast food and supermarket chains. The losers
tend to be the small local agents and traditional food markets and, to some extent, merchants
selling street foods as well as other food items.
The supermarkets bring with them significant improvements in standards of food quality and
safety at competitive prices and convenience, factors which are highly attractive to an
increasingly sophisticated consumer. Thus these changes in food systems affect availability and
access to food through changes to the food production, procurement and distribution systems
and the food trade environment. In turn this is bringing about a gradual shift in food culture
(towards a more universal one), with consequent changes in dietary consumption patterns and
nutritional status that vary with the socio-economic strata. Indeed, the lower socio-economic
population groups drift towards poor-quality, energy dense but cheap and affordable foods.
Besides, Costa Rica is no exception in this global change which is affecting the food culture and
the dietary patterns.
Overall, the changes can be described by two distinct phenomena: dietary convergence and
dietary adaptation. Dietary convergence is occurring as a result of increased reliance on a
narrow base of staple grains, increased consumption of meat and meat products, dairy products,
edible oil, salt and sugar, and a lower intake of dietary fibre. Dietary adaptation is
characterized by an increased consumption of brand name processed and store-bought foods, an
increased number of meals eaten outside the home and consumer behaviours driven by the
appeal of new foods available.
Lifestyle changes and adaptation of meal patterns
In urban areas, men and women are driven into the workforce by the overriding need for an
increase in income to pay for food, shelter, clothing and other household expenses.
Working hours and commuting times are often long and, with growing numbers of family
members entering the workforce, there is less time available to prepare food and hence there is
a greater desire and necessity to consume meals outside the home.
These factors have fuelled demand and led to massive market expansion of convenience and
fast food options. Traditional meals and meal times are replaced by spontaneous often unplanned
food purchases on street corners or in small kiosks. The traditional model of one family member
taking responsibility for meal planning and food preparation for the household has fractured in
most urban environments. Increasingly it is street food vendors, cafeterias at work or school and
child care facilities that provide family members with at least one and often several meals per
day. Thus, attention to dietary balance and dietary quality, which was traditionally intuitive at
the household level, is now subject to wider cultural changes and external influence.
Some agents of globalization that have influenced these changes in food are:
Supermarkets
Costa Rica is having an increase in supermakets chains like WalMart, Maxi pali and Megasuper.
The general pattern of supermarket entry into retail is first to specialize in the sale of packaged
and processed foods, followed by fresh or frozen meat and lastly fresh produce. The initial entry
into the market using packaged and processed foods exposes consumers to exotic food items
or those with a long shelf-life such as powdered milk, ramen noodles and many varieties of sweet
and savoury snack foods. Many processed foods contain added sodium and sweeteners and are
also high in fat.
Fast Food Industry

Today the fast food industry has become one of the most powerful in our country and around the
world which has conquered children and adults. Being the biggest draw for eating out but the
abuse of these foods has increased health problems like obesity, heart diseases,

Role of advertising
Secondary factors such as marketing, advertising, the appeal of new products, new retail outlets
including supermarkets and multinational fast food chains contribute to dietary adaptation and
convergence. Aside from the driving force of time constraints, part of the rapid adoption of new
foods in the diet stems from successful advertising. The advertising budget of the largest food
companies can exceed national expenditures on health promotion and health education by
massive proportions.
That is why, people have to emphasize in a Healthy food culture which can maintain away from
it.
Healthy food culture
Increased consumption of fruit and vegetables. One of the most obvious unions between
agriculture, health, nutrition and education is via the promotion of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Most national and international dietary guidelines are in agreement that consumption of fresh
fruit and vegetables is a healthy food choice and generally needs to be increased. The benefits of
fruit and vegetable consumption span the spectrum of nutritional disorders. Fruit and vegetables
are rich sources of micronutrients, needed by children for optimal growth and development.
Consumption of fruit and vegetables also decreases risks of obesity, cardiovascular disease and
some cancers (WHO/FAO, 2003), perhaps in part through their contribution of bioactive
substances. Schools and child care facilities are an ideal place to promote fresh fruit and
vegetables. Here children can be taught the health benefits of consuming them in adequate
amounts. Appreciation of local produce can also be cultivated through exposing children to
indigenous crops and teaching them about their nutritional properties.
The forces of globalization affect economic development and lifestyles in developing countries in
a variety of ways. From a health and nutrition point of view, the most obvious changes are those
resulting in sedentary lifestyles and adoption of dietary patterns that can lead to high rates of
obesity and NCDs. Despite some improvement, undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies are
generally still present. In other words, for the majority of cases, the issue of food and nutrition
security has not been resolved, yet another level ofcomplexity is being added to the problem as
the incidence of diet-related NCDs increases. The emergence of supermarkets and fast food
chains, while catering to the changing demands of the consumer in terms of convenience, quality
and safety, engenders new problems. These include erosion of food culture and reduction in
biodiversity as a result of newly created demand for standardized, uniform produce. Additionally
there has been a loss of livelihood opportunities at various stages of the food sector, including
agricultural production.

Outline
I.

Introduction
II.