Context

Along with the epidemiological transition over recent decades, the Caribbean, including the French West Indies (Martinique and Guadeloupe), has experienced a nutrition transition, with a marked shift in the global dietary structure associated with economic, social and demographic changes (Castetbon et al., 2016 ; Inamo et al., 2011 ; Block et al., 2012 ; Colon-Ramos et al., 2013). Despite the urgency regarding increasing rates of obesity and chronic diseases in this area, data to characterize the nutritional transition from dietary changes in the West Indies are scarce and incomplete. In addition, no study has explored the evolution and the expansion of food supply and food availability in the French West Indies while one of the striking characteristics in countries undergoing a nutritional transition is the changes over short periods on the use of raw materials, main part of the food supply, related to international trade and increased dependence on foods’ importation (Popkin et al., 2012 ; Sheehy et al., 2013). Recently, the French Lurel law was adopted to align the added sugar content of dairy products, ice cream and sweet beverages sold in the overseas territories with those of similar products in mainland France, because they were higher in these locally produced foods. However, no data exist on the sensory preferences in overseas territories populations, compared to metropolitan France, whereas this would make it possible to know whether the sugar content of local foods is consistent with the sensory preferences of consumers. In this context, a thorough knowledge of the interaction between food supply and eating behaviours is necessary to understand the impact on health in the French West Indies.

References

• Inamo J, Daigre JL, Boissin JL et al. High blood pressure and obesity: disparities among four French Overseas Territories. J Hypertens 2011;29:1494-501. 
• Castetbon K, Ramalli.L., Vaidie A et al. Consommations alimentaires et biomarqueurs nutritionnels chez les adultes de 16 ans et plus en Guadeloupe et Martinique. Enquête Kannari 2013-2014. Bull Epidémiol Hebd 2016;4:52-62.  9. 
• Castetbon K, Vaidie A, Ramalli L et al. Consommations alimentaires des enfants de 11-15 ans en Guadeloupe et Martinique. Enquête Kannari 2013-2014. Bull Epidémiol Hebd 2016;4:42-51.  10. 
• Block RC, Dozier AM, Hazel-Fernandez L, Guido JJ, Pearson TA. An epidemiologic transition of cardiovascular disease risk in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, Grenada: the Grenada Heart Project, 2005-2007. Prev Chronic Dis 2012;9:E90. 
• Colon-Ramos U, Perez-Cardona CM, Monge-Rojas R. Socio-demographic, behavioral, and health correlates of nutrition transition dietary indicators in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2013;34:330-5. 
• Popkin BM, Adair LS, Ng SW. Global nutrition transition and the pandemic of obesity in developing countries. Nutr Rev 2012;70:3-21
• Sheehy T, Sharma S. Trends in energy and nutrient supply in Trinidad and Tobago from 1961 to 2007 using FAO food balance sheets. Public Health Nutr 2013;16:1693-702.