UN says one-third of world cannot afford a healthy diet

The United Nations says the global cost of a healthy diet has risen 25 percent in five years, reaching US$4.28 purchasing power parity dollars per person per day. The finding was presented at UN headquarters in New York ahead of the launch of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report.

Sponsored

Máximo Torero, Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), said 2.69 billion people, almost one in every three people in the world, still cannot afford a healthy diet. He said the report's main finding is that calories are relatively inexpensive, but nutritious foods remain costly.

The report breaks down the cost of a healthy diet across food groups. Staple foods such as cereals, grains and beans make up 13 percent of the total cost, animal-source foods nearly 30 percent, and fruits and vegetables 16 percent.

Torero said the challenge is not producing enough calories, but making nutrient-rich foods more affordable.

Sponsored

#UN #FAO #SOFI #MximoTorero