[Alimentary basic basket and index of prices in Santander, Colombia, 1999-2000].
OBJECTIVE
To establish indicators for food security (FS) in two Colombian municipalities.


METHODS
In 1999-2000, a descriptive study was carried out in two municipalities of the department of Santander, Colombia, that determined the cost of basic food baskets (BFB), to estimate price indices (PI), their variation, and indicators of FS related to the legally set minimum wage (MW).


RESULTS
No differences were found in the PI by municipality (p > 0.05). The annual cumulative price indices were a single digit. The percentages of food insecurity (FI) were upwards of 50%, differing by municipality, in 1999 (p = 0.04), and 2000 (p = 0.88). The FI increased five points on average for the period 1999-2000. An average minimum wage of 1.24 per month is needed for a family to have access to a BFB.


CONCLUSIONS
The purchasing power of the current MW doesn't satisfy the caloric nor nutritional requirements of a family. The local FS will continue deteriorating, given the behavior of its determinants.
Herrán-Falla
Oscar Fernando
OF
Escuela de Nutrición y Dietética, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia. herran28@epm.net.co
Prada-Gómez
Gloria Esperanza
GE
Patiño-Benavides
Gonzalo Alberto
GA
D003105:Colombia; D003132:Commerce; D005523:Food Supply / Q000191:economics*