The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has recently published ‘The State of Food and Agriculture 2023’, a comprehensive report presenting startling details about the hidden costs of unhealthy diets and ultra-processed foods. These costs, estimated to be over USD 7 trillion annually, have far-reaching implications for our health and environment.
Understanding the Hidden Costs
In agrifood systems, hidden costs include environmental expenses from emissions and land use, health costs related to dietary patterns, undernourishment, and social costs associated with poverty among agricultural workers.
Key Findings: The Economic Burden of Unhealthy Diets
Unhealthy diets mainly comprised of ultra-processed foods, sugars, and fats contribute to hidden costs exceeding USD 7 trillion annually. These costs reflect the economic strain caused by health issues like obesity and non-communicable diseases. Unhealthy diets also lead to decreased labour productivity, adding to these hidden costs.
Global Impact and Economic Burden
The majority of the hidden costs were generated in upper-middle-income (39%) and high-income countries (36%). Lower-middle income countries contributed 22% while low-income countries accounted for 3%. Unhealthy diets produce hidden costs equivalent to at least USD 10 trillion annually, nearly 10% of the global GDP.
Impact on India
India’s total hidden costs in agrifood systems were approximately USD 1.1 trillion, making it the third-largest contributor globally after China and the US. The burden of disease from dietary patterns accounted for the largest share (60%) of hidden costs in India.
Processed Foods: A Growing Concern
The consumption of highly processed foods is rising worldwide, particularly in peri-urban and rural areas. This trend is driven by factors such as urbanization, lifestyle shifts, and changes in employment profiles.
Urban vs Rural Consumption Patterns
The report challenges the notion that consumption patterns greatly differ between urban and rural areas. Instead, it demonstrates that processed foods are widely consumed across both types of settings, irrespective of the level of urbanization.
Global Food Insecurity
Globally, moderate or severe food insecurity levels remained largely unchanged for the second consecutive year but were significantly higher than pre-Covid-19 pandemic figures. The report revealed that approximately 29.6% of the global population, or 2.4 billion people, experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2022.
Future Projections
The report projects that by 2030, nearly 600 million people are expected to suffer from chronic undernourishment.
Reducing the Burden of Ultra-Processed Foods
The burden of ultra-processed foods can be reduced by transforming current agrifood systems to make them more sustainable and healthy. This involves promoting the consumption of diverse, nutritious, less processed foods, regulating marketing and labeling of ultra-processed foods, and improving access to healthy foods.
Government Initiatives for a Healthy Lifestyle
The Indian government has initiated several measures to promote a healthy lifestyle, such as the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, PM-POSHAN Scheme, Fit India Movement, and the Eat Right Movement.
About Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
The FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations leading international efforts to defeat hunger. With 194 member countries including India, the FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide. It produces an array of flagship publications, including ‘The State of Food and Agriculture’ and ‘The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture.’
