Food insecurity affects millions in Italy and across Europe

Food insecurity in Europe is increasingly characterized by an inability to access a healthy and adequate diet rather than a total lack of food. While Europe and North America report some of the lowest levels of food insecurity globally, significant vulnerabilities persist. In 2025, approximately 8.7% of the combined population in these regions faced insecurity, with European rates ranging from 6.1% in Southern Europe to 8.5% in Eastern Europe.

In Italy, the 'Atlas of Hunger 2026' reports that 5.4 million people, or 9.3% of the population, cannot afford a protein-rich meal every other day. The report highlights that one in four Italian families includes minors, and only half of these households are economically stable. In such cases, parents often reduce their own food intake to prioritize their children.

Across the continent, 8.5% of people cannot afford meat, fish, or vegetarian equivalents on alternate days. High food inflation following the Russo-Ukrainian war has shifted consumer habits toward cheaper, imported products. Furthermore, demand for food assistance remains high, with over 13 million people receiving aid through the European network of food banks in 2025.