Otago University researchers investigate Pacific Islanders’ fear of new foods

Fehoko wanted to understand what the barriers were that were preventing Pacific families from changing their eating habits.
photo: 123 RF

A University of Otago researcher hopes to gain insights into obesity issues among Pacific Islanders by studying food phobia, or resistance to new foods.

Dr Edmond Fehoko from the Department of Human Nutrition received a grant of NZ$30,000 from the Health Research Council.

“Pacific people need to change their behaviours, experiences and perceptions around food, particularly the consumption of so-called ‘new foods’,” he said.

“In short, food phobia is the fear of trying new foods in your daily diet or meals. Therefore, many of the foods that are considered new foods in the literature are fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and whole grain products.”

Fehoko wanted to understand what the barriers were that were preventing Pacific families from changing their eating habits.

He acknowledged that people tend to like what they know, but the food many Pacific Islanders grew up eating was not the healthy food available on the market today.

“So, through this study I wanted to explore what’s holding us back, or what the barriers are, but also to see what potential opportunities there are for Pacific Islanders to start exploring and eating these new foods in their daily diets,” Fehoko said.

Dr. Edmund Fehoko
photo: PMN / Supply

He said the prevalence of obesity among Pacific Islanders was a “million-dollar question”.

“I think there are a number of factors and issues,” he said, adding, “We can look at currency issues, we can look at social, cultural issues, but we can also look at systemic issues that are happening in terms of importing processed foods into the Pacific,” he said.

“From a Pacific perspective, I can talk about the importation of processed foods. Now you go to the Pacific, nine times out of ten, everything is in our backyard, the plantations, the crops, the ocean.

“However, many of us don’t drink coconut drinks straight from the bucket, but buy them straight from the keg. Or, instead of drinking mango drinks straight from the bucket, they buy them straight from the bottle.”

“So these are issues that are happening, not only in the Pacific, but also in ethnic minority and indigenous communities in New Zealand.”

Fehoco said Pacifica has plantations and fresh food supplies, as well as fresh ocean fish, but people still choose bottled mangoes, coconuts and canned tuna.

He said his research would initially focus on Pacific Island communities in Otago and Southland, but could expand to other regions in the coming years.