ASSESSMENT OF DIETARY-INTAKE AT HOME AND OUTSIDE THE HOME IN BAMAKO (MALI)

A food consumption survey undertaken in Mall, including 74 households and 367 inhabitants, showed that meals prepared at home secured the da ily energy requirement in 79%, 66% and 54% of the families of fair, mi ddle and low socio-economic status, respectively. Likewise, the ratio of energy supplied as high quality protein and the intake of calcium a nd vitamin A diminished with decreasing incomes. These inadequacies we re partly compensated for by street food. More than 91% of the childre n, regardless of social condition or gender, ate outdoor food, which p rovided 8-17% of their daily energy, 5-27% of their protein and up to 100% of their vitamin A needs. The dietary contribution of street food was most important for pre-school children of poor families whose mot hers were involved in trading food on the roadsides. Adults resorted l ess frequently to street food (57%, 75% and 90% for individuals with f air, middle and low incomes, respectively). Outdoor consumption has to be assessed in food consumption surveys and measures designed to impr ove nutrition must take account of the importance of street food. Furt hermore, provided a few recommendations are made to its vendors, stree t food readily amenable to innovation and changes has the potential to offset in part the inadequacies of home food, especially for schoolch ildren.