Hunger in Brazil exceeds global average and affects children more

Food insecurity in Brazil reached a record level at the end of 2021 and surpassed, for the first time, the global average. It affects more women, poor families and people between the ages of 30 and 49, groups that generally have more children — compromising the current generation of Brazilian children.

According to a global Gallup survey carried out since 2006 in about 160 countries, the rate of food insecurity in the Brazilian population has doubled since 2014, the year in which the economy went into recession under Dilma Rousseff (2011-2016), and has registered mediocre growth. since then.

According to Gallup data, analyzed in Brazil by the Social Policy Center of FGV Social, the rate jumped from 17% in 2014 to 36% at the end of 2021. For the first time, it exceeded the global average (35%), measured from than 125 thousand questionnaires applied in the world.

Among the poorest 20% of Brazilians, 75% responded in the affirmative if they had run out of money to buy food in the last 12 months. Among women, the rate reached 47%; and 45% for people aged between 30 and 49 years — percentages above the global average.

“The higher food insecurity in these segments has worrying long-term effects because of the greater number of children involved and malnutrition among them”, says Marcelo Neri, director of FGV Social.

“What is also impressive is the abysmal increase in food insecurity inequality. Among the poorest 20% in Brazil, the level is close to the countries with the highest rates, such as Zimbabwe [80%]. The richest 20% experienced a fall [para 7%]slightly above Sweden, the country with less food insecurity.”

The survey, from the end of 2021, did not manage to capture the new surge in food prices this year, especially after the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine – major producers of wheat and corn.

It was also carried out in a context in which Caixa Econômica Federal paid, over seven months of last year, emergency aid to 39.2 million families, with monthly amounts between R$ 150 and R$ 375. Currently, only 17, 5 million families receive the new Auxílio Brasil, of R$ 400 per month.

For Renato Mafuf, coordinator of the Brazilian Research Network on Food and Nutrition Sovereignty and Security (Rede Penssan), all the factors that maintained high levels of hunger among Brazilians until 2020 worsened last year; and continue to deteriorate this year.

A survey by the Penssan Network in December 2020 showed that, in total, more than half (55%) of Brazilians suffered from some type of food insecurity (severe, moderate or mild).

“Unemployment remains high and income is low, especially among the informal. We have a social benefit [Auxílio Brasil] lower than in 2020 [quando chegou a R$ 600 mensais] and a war between two big food producers”, says Maluf.

“To complete, there is no structured government policy against hunger, only voluntary reactions, with specific measures, such as the reduction of import tariffs. There is no reason to think that things can improve.”

According to projections by the consultancy MB Associados, food inflation this year should reach 12%, well above the IPCA, contributing to aggravating the situation of food insecurity.

“Although there is some deceleration in the prices of metallic commodities due to the perspective of economic slowdown in Europe, China and the United States, food prices follow another dynamic, with persistent pressures and detached from the activity indices”, says Sérgio Vale, economist- head of MB Associados.