Human food consumption patterns have changed tremendously across different eras. Since the mid-20th century, a rapid nutritional shift has occurred on the global level, characterized by the shift towards high consumption of energy dense foods, refined carbohydrates, animal-based products and saturated and trans-fats, and the reduced intake of plant-based foods. This have raised concerns due to the consequent impact on human health and body composition, particularly in disadvantaged regions. The ongoing political conflicts, economic instability, population growth and climate change have made the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) more vulnerable amidst the nutritional shifts attributed to globalization trends and the rise of food manufacturing. Its capacity to protect and promote the local dietary heritage is reduced with threats to its local food system and agricultural diversity. The contemporary Bilad al-Sham that encompasses Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, are in the midst of this global and regional nutritional changes, and there’s a need to provide a contextual understanding of this global nutritional event.
This systematic review aims to identify and summarize existing evidence on food consumption patterns in Bilad al-Sham, based on population-based data. A comprehensive and in-depth description of food groups, food items, and overall dietary patterns, and how these have changed over time on the individual level among these countries. Furthermore, the methodological approaches utilized in studies, populations’ meal patterns and gender differences in dietary intake will be addressed as well.
A total of 43 population-based study articles that measured and reported food consumption at the individual level for the population in the identified context were included in this systematic review. The review reveals that in the 1960s, populations primarily relied on local, seasonal, and homemade foods, with a diet rich in plant-based items and moderate to low animal product consumption. In the 1990s, there was a noticeable shift toward increased consumption of commercially processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and animal products, with some insufficient increase in fruit and vegetable intake.
This review highlights gaps in dietary assessment research in Bilad al-Sham and offers recommendations. Future studies on food consumption patterns should prioritize national, wide-scale, and representative surveys, using standardized, valid, and cultural-specific measurement tools, with detailed and age-disaggregated representation of dietary data.
