ASSESSMENT OF PERCAPITA SUGAR CONSUMPTION PATTERN AND HOUSEHOLD FOOD EXPENDITURE IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

The study analysed per capita sugar consumption patterns and food expenditure in Bauchi State, Nigeria. A cross–sectional data were collected from 412 households through a multi – stage sampling technique. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and double-log regression model. The result revealed that households' mean monthly per capita sugar consumption was 779.11g, 806.86g and 835.57g in the northern, central and western zone, respectively. In the northern zone 58.7% of the respondents consumed more sugar during the hot season. While in western zone 64.2% consumed more sugar during the cold season; likewise, in central zone it was 38.5%. The mean monthly sugar expenditure for the households in the northern, central and western zone were N2,221.50 N2,492.07 and N1,824.33 respectively Furthermore, white sugar was found to be the most preferred and most regularly consumed with 80.4%,76.0% and 71.5% in northern, central and western zone, respectively. The mean monthly total expenditure and food expenditure for the households in the northern zone were N70,185.31 and N42,751.75 respectively, while in the central zone, it was N48,336.54 and N28,649.04 respectively and in western zone it was N50,287.88 and N27,687.88 respectively. The result for elasticity demand for sugar indicated that it is a normal commodity with an income coefficient of 0.482, while price elasticity was 0.629, with an R2 value of 0.524 and the F-value was (39.969) significant (P<0.01). Based on the recommended level of sugar intake of 25g per capita per day by WHO the study area sugar consumption is slightly higher at 27g per capita per day. As most of the literature on the theme provides a medical, nutritional or health-related point of view, there is a lack of studies on sugar consumption that actually consider the balance or shares of sugar expenditure from household’s food expenditure and how they vary across social determinants. The study therefore recommended that household should be encouraged by government and non governmental organizations to plan meals that moderate sugar intake.