Analyzing Food Insecurity: Healthy Diets in Mexico, Latin America

The Statista Consumer Insight 2023 survey revealed that 86% of adults in Mexico regularly consume fruits and vegetables. Despite this trend, official data highlights significant national and regional disparities in access to nutritious food, as persistent inequalities and economic challenges continue to impact food security in Latin America. 

According to Statista, Mexico and Argentina rank as the Latin American countries with the highest consumption of fruits and vegetables among 11 countries worldwide for adults aged 18 to 64. The list also includes Brazil, boasting a 76% consumption rate of fruits and vegetables among its adult population, and the United States, with 66%. Japan is at the bottom of the list with a 58% consumption rate, which may be due to the high costs of these products in the Asian country, as reported by the statistics platform.

The Statista Consumer Insights macro-survey was conducted online between July 2022 and June 2023. Rather than asking respondents about the exact number of fruits and vegetables they consume daily, the study only inquired if they regularly eat these foods, Statista clarified. This methodology could raise questions about the study's validity, as it relies on participants having internet access, potentially excluding marginalized groups. In this regard, while the survey results suggest a trend toward healthier eating habits and greater access to fruits and vegetables among Mexican consumers, data from national and international organizations tell a different story.

According to the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (CONEVAL), 56% of households in Mexico have the purchasing power to consume fruits and vegetables daily. However, in states such as Guerrero and Chiapas in the south of the country, this percentage drops to 30%. INEGI highlights that income level is essential to distinguish the sectors of the population that could be at risk of food poverty. “In Oaxaca, the average income is MX$7,165 (US$423.28), and 42% is allocated to food, beverages, and tobacco, while in Nuevo Leon, with almost double the income, 29% is allocated to these purposes,” the institute highlighted.

FAO highlights that persistent inequalities in Latin America significantly impact the food security of the most vulnerable communities. In 2022, moderate or severe food insecurity was 8.3% higher in rural areas than in urban areas. Furthermore, gender disparities play a crucial role, with women experiencing 9.1% higher rates of food insecurity.

The Regional Panorama of Food Security and Nutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean 2023, developed by FAO, highlighted that in 2022, 37.5% of the region's population was affected by food insecurity, compared to 29.6% worldwide. Moreover, the region had the highest cost of a healthy diet, reaching US$4.08 per person per day in 2021, compared to the global average of US$3.66. 

In 2021, 133.4 million people in the region—equivalent to 22.7% of the population—were unable to afford a healthy diet. This paradox underscores the region's status as one of the world's largest producers of fresh food while a substantial portion of its population remains malnourished, as highlighted by Lola Castro, Regional Director, WFP for Latin America and the Caribbean, during the presentation of the report Financing for Food Security and Nutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Latin America contributes 14% of global agricultural and fishery production. According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Cepal), 87% of this production, valued at approximately US$160 billion, is exported to other regions worldwide. However, only 13% remains within the producing countries.

The average food inflation for Latin America reached 43.9% in September 2022, surpassing Asia's 30%, the second highest globally, as reported by FAO. This inflationary trend is influenced by currency depreciation in various countries and rising fuel costs impacting transportation and distribution networks. Furthermore, the region's vulnerability, stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, along with elevated fertilizer prices due to the conflict in Ukraine, further exacerbates the situation.

In this scenario, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) advocates for integrated policy measures across the region. These include bolstering agricultural support programs, implementing social protection policies, and initiating food assistance initiatives in schools and low-income communities. Additionally, countries can establish long-term strategies to transform agricultural and food systems, with a focus on addressing high food inflation rates that can reduce households' purchasing power. “By taking action to address food insecurity in a comprehensive, multidimensional, and sustainable way, countries can advance to ensure that all citizens have access to nutritious and affordable food,” underscored the organism.