Between 1996 and 2000, within the framework of a European project "Food, techniques and agro-food innovations in West Africa" (ALISA), interviews were conducted in Benin, Burkina Faso and Senegal. The economic crisis has had a deep impact of behaviour in the urban areas. There have been modifications in products consumed as well as in the frequencies and modes of consumption. There are still uncertainties as far as quality is concerned. Production techniques were modified, partially due to migrations. Agro-food systems settled locally.