A growing reliance on ultra-processed foods across Sub-Saharan Africa is being driven not only by changing diets and urbanisation but also by the heavy burden of unpaid food-related work carried by women, according to a new study.
The review, published in The Lancet, examines the relationship between women’s domestic responsibilities and the increasing consumption of highly processed and ultra-processed foods (HP-UPFs), such as packaged snacks, fast foods, sugary drinks and ready-to-eat meals, across the region.
Researchers argue that while women are increasingly participating in the labour force, they continue to bear primary responsibility for household food preparation, childcare and other domestic duties, creating severe time constraints that encourage the use of convenient processed foods.
“Foodwork remains overwhelmingly women’s responsibility and underpins household food security and nutritional status,” the authors say in the study.
According to the authors, women in Sub-Saharan Africa have one of the highest labour force participation rates in the world. However, unlike in many other regions, increased employment has not been accompanied by a significant reduction in unpaid domestic work.
As a result, many women find themselves balancing paid jobs with cooking, food shopping, childcare and managing household nutrition, often leaving little time to prepare traditional meals from scratch.
The study found that this growing time pressure is contributing to increased demand for convenience foods.
“Women’s employment outside the home increases the household’s opportunity cost of time for home food processing and cooking, which in turn drives demand for labour-saving foods such as HP-UPFs and prepared meals,” the authors wrote.
Evidence reviewed from Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa showed that working women frequently turn to ready-made meals and processed foods as practical solutions to the competing demands of employment and caregiving.
The study’s authors noted that convenience should not be viewed simply as a matter of personal preference.
“Convenience is repeatedly framed in studies as a practical response to the dual pressures of time constraints and caregiving demands, rather than merely a matter of preference,” the paper says.
While processed foods can reduce the time spent preparing meals, the study warns that excessive consumption is associated with rising rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other non-communicable diseases.
The authors argue that governments should adopt policies that improve access to healthier food options while recognising the realities of women’s daily lives. They caution that simply encouraging households to cook more meals at home could unintentionally increase women’s workload.
Instead, the authors recommend measures such as restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods, improving school meal programmes, providing nutrition education, supporting women-owned food businesses, and investing in childcare, clean energy and water services.
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