Supply of vegetable oils

Definition

Grams per person per day of vegetable oils available in a country's food supply. Includes production plus imports minus exports and changes in vegetable oil stocks. This indicator takes into consideration vegetable oils as well as processed foods derived from vegetable oils. Data is drawn from the FAO Food Balance Sheets. Note that FAO's methodology for Food Balance Sheets changed for 2014 estimates and after, which may limit comparability pre and post-2014.

Relevance

Availability of vegetable oils in the national food supply is a precursor to consumption of vegetable oils, a component of the WHO's recommended healthy diet. Vegetable oils are an important source of unsaturated fats (though palm oil, also included in this indicator, contains saturated fat). Note that this indicator does not consider access or affordability of vegetable oils among population subgroups.