UN Warns Healthy Diet Costs Have Soared 25% Since 2021

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Geneva: A United Nations body has warned that the cost of maintaining a healthy diet has risen by almost 25% globally since 2021, underlining the growing problem of guaranteeing access to nutritious food in the face of persistent inflation, conflicts, climate shocks, and economic uncertainty.

According to the survey, the cost of nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, eggs, meat, and fish has increased far faster than many household incomes. The rise has rendered nutritious diets costly for millions of people, particularly in low- and middle-income nations where families spend a bigger portion of their income on food.

The agency noted that food volatility has been driven by a variety of factors, including war-related disruptions, extreme weather occurrences connected to climate change, high energy and transportation costs, and supply chain constraints. Although global food commodity prices have fallen from their post-pandemic highs, retail food prices remain high in many countries, making nutritious meals out of reach for poor people.

The report cautioned that rising costs are causing many families to replace fresh and nutritious foods with cheaper, calorie-dense processed alternatives, raising the risk of malnutrition, obesity, and diet-related disorders. Children, pregnant women, and low-income groups are among the most affected.