Food and Nutrition Literacy in Sub-Saharan Africa: What Works, for Whom, and Under What Conditions?

Abstract

Food and nutrition literacy (FNL), the knowledge, skills, and practices enabling informed dietary choices, is increasingly recognized as critical to improving household food consumption, yet evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains inconsistent and context-dependent. The core problem is that while FNL interventions are widely promoted, it is unclear how effectively they translate into better diets given pervasive poverty, volatile food prices, cultural norms, and weak food environments. This pragmatic narrative review synthesizes 61 peer-reviewed studies and institutional reports to examine how FNL influences household food consumption in SSA and to identify the socioeconomic, cultural, and behavioral factors that mediate this relationship. Evidence consistently shows that higher FNL is associated with improved dietary diversity, healthier food choices, and better nutrition outcomes, but primarily among households with adequate income, market access, positive attitudes toward healthy foods, and relevant food-related skills. Conversely, poverty, limited access to diverse foods, entrenched gender-based allocation norms, and low purchasing power significantly constrain the effectiveness of FNL, often rendering literacy gains insufficient to alter consumption patterns. Key practical pathways linking FNL to consumption outcomes include meal planning, food budgeting, purchasing, preparation, and hygiene practices. Empirically, this review contributes by mapping inconsistencies across SSA settings and demonstrating that structural barriers frequently override individual literacy. Policy-wise, it argues that standalone nutrition education is inadequate; FNL interventions must be integrated with economic empowerment (e.g., income support, livelihood programs), culturally responsive strategies addressing gender and food traditions, and improved food environments (e.g., market access, food affordability). Conclusively, FNL is necessary but not sufficient for improving household diets in SSA without simultaneously addressing broader socioeconomic determinants. Recommendations include implementing multisectoral approaches that combine FNL enhancement with poverty reduction, women’s decision-making support, school-based nutrition curricula reflecting local food cultures, and strengthened agricultural market systems, particularly targeting rural and low-income households, to sustainably transform food consumption patterns across the region.