Chile ya no pasa hambre, pero cada vez más chilenos no pueden comer bien

Chile has eliminated hunger, yet more than seven million citizens struggle with poor dietary quality, according to the latest United Nations Food Security and Nutrition Report (SOFI 2026). The report highlights a critical shift in the country’s food landscape: while chronic undernourishment has nearly disappeared, rising costs of healthy foods have pushed millions into diets lacking essential nutrients, contributing to obesity rates and increased public health expenditures. The SOFI 2026 report, released on July 21, presents both progress and warning signs. Globally, the number of people suffering from hunger, measured as undernourishment, fell to 645 million in 2025, down from 8.1% of the world's population in 2024 and 8.6% in 2022. However, the report reveals a troubling trend: over two billion people face moderate to severe food insecurity, meaning they must sacrifice either the quantity or quality of their meals due to financial constraints. This discrepancy underscores the growing challenge of accessing nutritious food despite sufficient caloric intake. A key finding of the report is the increasing affordability gap between basic sustenance and a balanced diet. Nearly 2.7 billion people globally cannot afford a healthy diet, a figure that reflects the broader economic pressures affecting food security. In Chile, this issue is particularly pronounced. While the rate of undernourishment stands below 2.5%, one of the lowest in the region, the proportion of the population facing moderate to severe food insecurity rose from 10.8% during 2014–16 to 16.0% in 2023–25, translating to approximately three million individuals who must make difficult choices about their nutrition. The report attributes this rise to the steep increase in the cost of a healthy diet in Chile. Between 2017 and 2025, the price of a nutritionally adequate meal, one that meets all dietary requirements, rose from $3.38 to $5.65 per person per day in purchasing power parity terms, representing a 67% increase. This surge has made it increasingly difficult for lower-income households to maintain a balanced diet, leading to higher rates of obesity and related health complications. The SOFI 2026 report also identifies three global trends that mirror the situation in Chile. First, gender inequality persists in food access, with women continuing to bear a disproportionate burden of food insecurity. Second, adult obesity rates continue to climb, reaching 16.2% in 2024, a sharp contrast to global targets aimed at reducing such conditions. Third, anaemia among women of reproductive age has worsened, highlighting the nutritional challenges faced by vulnerable groups. In Chile, these patterns reflect deeper structural issues within the food system. Despite historical successes in eradicating child malnutrition, the nation now faces new challenges linked to economic volatility and climate change. The report calls for targeted policies to monitor the cost and availability of healthy foods, build more resilient food systems, protect vulnerable households from price fluctuations, and improve data collection on dietary habits, especially among women and children. As the government and civil society grapple with these findings, the focus is shifting from traditional hunger relief programs to long-term strategies that ensure equitable access to nutritious food. With over seven million people unable to eat well, the need for comprehensive reform in pricing mechanisms and social protection frameworks has never been clearer. The path forward requires coordinated action across sectors to address the root causes of food insecurity and promote sustainable, inclusive dietary practices.