The Hidden Hunger Crisis in Europe: Millions Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
- Dr Joan Madia
- Apr 16
- 6 min read
In one of the world's wealthiest regions, millions of Europeans face a silent nutritional crisis. Despite the European Union's commitment to ensuring food security and promoting health equity, significant portions of the population in several member states cannot afford to eat a nutritionally adequate diet. Recent data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Bank reveal striking disparities across the continent, challenging our perceptions of European prosperity and raising urgent questions about effective policy interventions.
Why a Healthy Diet Matters
A healthy diet extends far beyond simply consuming enough calories. As researchers have established, nutritional adequacy requires "a wide range of nutrient-dense foods to get all of the vitamins and minerals that are essential for good health" (Ritchie, 2024). When people lack access to diverse, nutritious foods, they suffer from what experts call "hidden hunger" – deficiencies in essential micronutrients like iron, calcium, vitamin A, and iodine that may not be immediately visible but significantly impact health and quality of life.
The consequences of poor nutrition extend beyond individual health concerns. Inadequate nutrition contributes to increased healthcare costs, reduced productivity, developmental challenges in children, and greater susceptibility to chronic diseases. For societies, these outcomes translate to economic costs through increased healthcare spending and lost productivity.
Measuring Diet Affordability
The data presented in the figures comes from comprehensive research conducted by FAO and World Bank researchers using a carefully standardized methodology. According to this approach, "a diet is defined as unaffordable when its cost, plus basic non-food needs like housing and transportation, exceeds daily income" (FAO and World Bank, 2024).
To establish what constitutes a "healthy diet," researchers used food-based dietary guidelines developed by national health authorities. These guidelines specify the recommended balance of foods across various groups – cereals, fruits, vegetables, legumes, meat, and dairy – considered optimal for long-term health. The research then identified the lowest-cost options to meet these nutritional requirements using locally available foods at prevailing market prices.
This measurement approach provides a realistic assessment of diet affordability by considering both the actual cost of locally available nutritious foods and the economic constraints faced by households who must also cover basic non-food expenses like housing and transportation.
Europe's Hidden Nutritional Divide
The data visualized in the two figures reveals several striking patterns across European countries that challenge common perceptions about food security in the region.
Current Situation (2022)
As shown in Figure 1, significant disparities exist across European nations in the proportion of the population unable to afford a healthy diet:
Southern European countries face the greatest challenges, with Greece (18.3%), Portugal (12%), and Spain (8.9%) showing the highest percentages of their populations unable to afford healthy diets.
Central and Eastern European nations like Italy (6.9%) and Poland (6.6%) occupy the middle range.
The most favorable situations are found in Northern Europe, with Belgium (0.7%), Finland (0.8%), and Denmark (0.9%) having less than 1% of their populations facing this problem.
Countries like the United Kingdom and the United States both report 2.5% of their populations unable to afford nutritious diets.
Trends Over Time (2017-2022)
The trend data in Figure 2 reveals important developments over the five-year period:
All European countries have made progress in reducing the percentage of their populations unable to afford a healthy diet, albeit at varying rates.
Greece has shown the most dramatic improvement, with the percentage falling from approximately 30% in 2017 to 18.3% in 2022 – still the highest in Europe but reflecting substantial progress.
Portugal also saw significant improvement, though with some fluctuation during 2019-2020, possibly reflecting the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The gap between Southern European countries and their Northern counterparts has narrowed but remains substantial.
Why Such Stark Differences?
Several interconnected factors help explain the significant disparities observed across European countries:
Economic Factors
The affordability gap largely mirrors broader economic inequalities within Europe. Countries with higher rates of unaffordable healthy diets typically have:
Lower median incomes and higher income inequality
Higher unemployment rates, particularly following the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic
Greater vulnerability to economic shocks
In Greece, for example, the lingering effects of the sovereign debt crisis that began in 2009 continue to impact household incomes and purchasing power. According to Ritchie (2024), "In the poorest countries, the cost of a healthy diet is higher than the median income. Even if the average person in these countries spent all of their money on food, a healthy diet would be unaffordable."
Food System Factors
Food production, distribution, and retail structures also influence the affordability of healthy foods:
In Northern European countries, efficient food supply chains and greater competition in food retail may help keep prices lower
Southern European regions often face higher costs for fresh produce during certain seasons, despite being traditional agricultural producers
Food deserts (areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food) are more prevalent in economically disadvantaged regions
Policy Environments
Differences in social safety nets and public health approaches play crucial roles:
Countries with more robust social protection systems can buffer vulnerable populations against food price increases
Some nations prioritize food subsidy programs or school meal initiatives that improve access to nutritious options
VAT rates on food items vary across European countries, affecting retail prices
Why This Matters for European Policy
The persistence of nutritional inequality in Europe represents a significant challenge to the European Union's stated goals of promoting health equity, reducing poverty, and ensuring food security for all citizens. Several key EU policy frameworks directly intersect with this issue:
Europe 2020 Strategy and European Pillar of Social Rights
The Europe 2020 strategy set ambitious targets for reducing poverty and social exclusion across the bloc. The European Pillar of Social Rights further articulated principles related to social protection and inclusion. However, these figures suggest that millions of Europeans continue to face nutritional poverty despite these commitments.
Farm to Fork Strategy
As part of the European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork Strategy aims to make food systems fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly. The data on diet affordability highlights the importance of ensuring that this transition doesn't inadvertently exacerbate existing inequalities in food access.
Post-Pandemic Recovery and Resilience
As Europe recovers from the economic impacts of COVID-19, these figures underscore the importance of integrating food affordability considerations into broader recovery efforts, particularly in the most affected countries.
Beyond the Averages: The Risk of Nutritional Inequality
National averages can mask significant variations within countries. Evidence suggests that diet affordability challenges disproportionately affect:
Single-parent households
Families with multiple children
People living in rural areas with limited food retail options
Pensioners with fixed incomes
Recent immigrants
Those with disabilities or chronic health conditions
These vulnerable groups may face significantly higher rates of nutritional poverty than national averages suggest, creating pockets of hidden hunger even in wealthy nations with seemingly low overall rates.
Paths Forward: Addressing Europe's Nutritional Divide
Tackling the affordability gap for healthy diets requires coordinated action across multiple domains:
Economic Approaches
Targeted income support for vulnerable households
Food subsidy programs focused on nutritious options
Reduced taxation on healthy food items
Food System Interventions
Strengthening local food production and shortening supply chains
Supporting community food initiatives like urban gardens and food cooperatives
Addressing food waste to increase system efficiency and reduce costs
Educational Initiatives
Promoting food literacy and cooking skills
Providing guidance on nutritious, economical food choices
Expanding school meal programs to ensure children receive adequate nutrition
Research and Monitoring
Improved data collection on food affordability at subnational levels
Regular monitoring of nutritional status across population groups
Evaluation of intervention effectiveness
Conclusion
The data presented in these figures reveals a concerning reality: in one of the world's wealthiest regions, millions of Europeans remain unable to afford a diet that meets basic nutritional requirements. This hidden hunger crisis demands greater attention from policymakers, researchers, and the public.
Progress over the 2017-2022 period shows that improvement is possible, particularly in the countries facing the greatest challenges. However, significant gaps remain. As Europe faces mounting challenges from climate change, geopolitical tensions affecting food supply chains, and ongoing economic pressures, ensuring widespread access to affordable, nutritious diets will require renewed commitment and innovative approaches.
The fundamental question is not merely technical but ethical: in societies with abundant resources, should anyone be forced to compromise on nutrition due to economic constraints? The data suggests Europe has not yet fully lived up to its ideals of ensuring that all citizens can meet this most basic human need.
Sources:
FAO and World Bank (2024). Using data and methods from Bai et al. (2024). OurWorldinData.org/food-prices | CC BY
Ritchie, H. (2024). Diet Affordability. Our World in Data. Retrieved from OurWorldinData.org/diet-affordability
