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South Africa
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Resources
Use the following resources to conduct your own diet quality survey and analyze the results.
- DQQ translated into the national language(s) and in English
- IYCF DQQ: Companion questionnaire for infants and young children (age 6-23 months)
South Africa
Recommended citation for use of the country-adapted DQQ:
Global Diet Quality Project. DQQ for South Africa. Accessed at dietquality.org.Recommended citation for use of the DQQ data:
Global Diet Quality Project. 2025. DQQ Data. dataverse.harvard.edu/dataverse/dqqdata.Indicators
Data collected Sep 5 – Dec 9, 2021
Minimum Dietary Diversity - Women (MDD-W)
72%
Dietary Diversity Score (DDS)
5.5
All-5
23%
Protective Food Consumption (PFC)
39%
Starchy staple foods
95%
Vegetables
78%
Fruits
68%
At least one whole grain, pulse, nut, or seed
65%
Pulses, nuts or seeds
41%
Animal-source foods
94%
Unhealthy Food Consumption (UFC)
81%
More than one sugary food or beverage
74%
More than one salty ultra-processed food
40%
Processed meats
39%
Healthy Diet Pattern for prevention of chronic disease
5%
Zero vegetable or fruit consumption
10%
Soft drinks (soda, energy drinks, sports drinks)
51%
Starchy staple foods
95%
Whole grains
43%
Foods made from grains
87%
White roots, tubers, or plantains
51%
Pulses, nuts or seeds
41%
Pulses
30%
Nuts or seeds
19%
Vegetables
78%
Vitamin A-rich orange vegetables
43%
Dark green leafy vegetables
34%
Other vegetables
57%
Fruits
68%
Vitamin A-rich fruits
10%
Citrus
37%
Other fruits
54%
Dairy
63%
Milk
46%
Yogurt
29%
Cheese
26%
Eggs
54%
Meat, poultry, or fish
83%
Fish or seafood
23%
Poultry
53%
Unprocessed red meat
34%
Unprocessed red meat (ruminants)
27%
Unprocessed red meat (non-ruminants)
10%
Fast food or instant noodles
25%
Salty or fried snacks
57%
Packaged ultra-processed salty snacks
32%
Instant noodles
17%
Fast food
14%
Deep fried foods
36%
Sweet foods
52%
Baked or grain-based sweets
34%
Other sweets
36%
Sweet beverages
90%
Soft drinks (soda, energy drinks, sports drinks)
51%
Sweet tea, coffee, or cocoa
72%
Fruit juice and fruit drinks
35%
% indicates percent of the population consuming in the previous day or night