Food insecurity, defined by the FAO as the condition of those who lack regular access to healthy and adequate food, continues to be a critical issue even in high-income countries. It's not just a lack of food, but also nutritional quality, a balanced diet, and the ability to choose according to one's preferences.
The latest Istat survey, conducted in 2024 on income and living conditions, shows that 5,5% of Italians have experienced at least one of the eight signs of food insecurity identified by the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). The most common symptom is the need to limit oneself to a few types of food (4,3%), followed by the worry of running out of food (2,5%) and the inability to consume healthy meals (2,5%). The most severe forms—such as skipping meals entirely—remain less than 1%.
Overall, 1,3% of the Italian population experiences moderate or severe food insecurity, but the figure varies significantly across the country: 2,7% in Southern Italy, 0,8% in Central Italy, and 0,6% in the North. This is still an improvement compared to 2022 (2,2%), a sign of a slight recovery after the inflationary crisis. Foreigners (1,8%) and those with physical limitations (2,4%) remain most at risk.
At the European level, in 2024, 8,5% of citizens will be unable to afford a protein meal every other day, down from 9,5% in 2023. Italy bucks the trend, where the share rose to 9,9%, compared to 8,4% the previous year.
The data places our country 19th in Europe, with figures worse than France (10,2%) and Germany (11,2%) but far higher than those of Spain (6,1%), Ireland (1,8%), and Portugal (2,5%). This is a warning that we must not let down our guard on food poverty and the right to a balanced diet.
