Demand for food quality and urban and peri-urban farming and marketing system in Hanoi

We estimated the demand for food quality in Hanoi in terms of its nutritional composition, diversity, price, processing stage, source, and extent of outside consumption. The vast differences in these food quality parameters across different socioeconomic groups and regions in and around Hanoi City suggest the changing nature of the food quality with increased income and urbanization. To meet these changing demands requires adjustments in market structures which need planning. One lesson learned from this analysis is that urbanization and increased income may not necessarily bring all positive changes in food quality. While the diet becomes more balanced in terms of micronutrient consumption, the increased demand for fat-based calories, processed and restaurant foods, and drift away from fresh sources of farm and home-garden foods raised alarm for food quality and safety. These trends create a space for government policies to intervene in the production and marketing systems of food for the purpose of maintaining the hygienic conditions of food and public health.