Food in Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis is a net food importer. Imports supplied about 80% of national food needs in 2017, and the food import bill increased from USD 60.8 million in 2021 to more than USD 74 million in 2022. Local production includes fruits, vegetables, roots and tubers, livestock, poultry and fish. Fish consumption was about 32.3 kilograms per person, while around 6.4% of the population experienced severe food insecurity in 2020. Food is sold through markets, shops, restaurants, vendors and informal sellers. On St. Kitts, relevant places and services include the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Marine Resources and Cooperatives, the Environmental Health Department, the Saint Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards (SKNBS), Basseterre Public Market and 869ToGo. On Nevis, the Nevis Island Administration, Department of Agriculture, Supply Office and Farmers Market support food access. The Nevis Supply Office imports and sells lower-priced staple products and animal feeds and may provide subsidized items, but current prices and eligibility are not published in one consistent schedule. Travel and freight between St. Kitts and Nevis can affect both availability and cost. The national dish is stewed saltfish with spicy plantains, seasoned breadfruit and coconut dumplings. Other familiar foods include goat water, green bananas, ground provisions, rice and peas, johnny cakes, seafood such as lobster, wahoo and mahi mahi, and drinks or produce such as sorrel, ginger juice, soursop and mango. Kittitian and Nevisian preparations can differ, and local dishes exist alongside barbecue, seafood restaurants, West Indian buffets, farm-to-table meals and international dining. Food businesses must undergo Environmental Health inspection and certification before operating and normally renew that certification each year. Food handlers need a valid food handler's permit. Suspected foodborne illness should be reported to the Environmental Health Department or the Ministry of Health. Pre-packaged food made in or imported into Saint Kitts and Nevis is covered by the SKNBS Labelling of Pre-Packaged Foods Regulations 2023, including information such as contents, net quantity, manufacturer or importer, origin, lot or batch and a use-by date where required. SKNBS standards also address packaged water, food labelling and food-safety systems such as ISO 22000 and ISO 22002. A microbiological-criteria regulation discussed in 2024 was still described as a draft, so its confirmed legal status should be checked before relying on it. The government connects food security with healthy eating and nutrition security. Available obesity figures provide population context, including about 34% of adult women and 18% of adult men, but they do not establish an individual diet or medical need. Food availability also depends on the Agricultural Transformation and Growth Strategy 2022–2031 and the CARICOM 25 by 25 goal of reducing the regional food import bill by 25%. Measures include climate-resilient farming, irrigation and rainwater systems, greenhouse villages, storage, lower post-harvest losses, local poultry and livestock, agro-processing, biodegradable fish pots, artificial reefs and aquaculture. These measures address exposure to import costs, storms, drought, limited island logistics and pressure on overfished species. Exact national average food or restaurant prices are not reliably published, so current costs should be checked with the relevant market, shop, restaurant or public office.