Household refrigerator ownership and nutrition transition in developing countries: Evidence from rural China

Household refrigerators are rapidly diffusing through low- and middle-income countries, yet their implications for the nutrition transition remain unclear. Using panel data from China’s Fixed Observation Rural Survey (2003–2018), our study performs fixed-effects models and the instrumental variables approach to explores how the household refrigerator ownership effects nutrition transition in rural China. The results show that ownership is associated with lower daily cereal intake and higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, eggs, aquatic products, and meat (all p < 0.01), indicating a shift towards nutrient-dense foods. However, total dietary fat also increases and the household Healthy Eating Index does not improve, suggesting an incomplete move toward balanced diets. Findings suggest that promoting modern storage devices like household refrigerators alone is not enough to raise the population’s overall nutritional status. Strengthening healthy eating education is also needed to help individuals plan balanced meals and avoid excessive intake of high-fat foods. The findings offer empirical support and policy insights from China, providing guidance for developing countries seeking to alleviate the triple burden of malnutrition.