In Italy, 4 million families are at risk of food poverty.

In 2023, more than 5.9 million people in Italy were experiencing material or social food deprivation, an increase of approximately 680,000 individuals compared to the previous year. The "invisible" segment is the one that is growing the most: those who do not meet the ISTAT poverty threshold but are still unable to eat adequately.

ActionAid's new survey, contained in the Fragile Equilibri report, also highlights a broad, cross-cutting, and largely hidden reality: over 4 million families are currently at risk of food poverty. In a context of widespread price increases—food prices rose 9.8% in 2023—food is becoming the first item on the list of expenditures to be cut. This forced choice creates exclusion, not only among the poorest, but also among workers and families with average incomes.

"Food poverty is closely linked to economic fragility, but it's not limited to it. Consider, for example, that only 40% of those experiencing food deprivation are officially classified as poor according to ISTAT thresholds, confirming a growing vulnerability that also affects segments of the population excluded from public support measures," says Roberto Sensi, head of the food poverty program for ActionAid Italy.

It's not just a question of "quantity." Food poverty isn't just about not having enough food; it means sacrificing quality, variety, and regular meals, but also losing the social and cultural value of eating together. This condition eludes traditional statistical indicators and is analyzed by ActionAid using the FIES scale, which measures food insecurity through people's experiences; the DAMS index, which combines material and relational aspects; and the relative food poverty indicator, based on consumption.

A divided Italy. The geography of food poverty reveals a still divided Italy. The most critical situations are in Southern Italy: Campania has 877,000 people in difficulty, Puglia 721,000, Calabria 503,000, Sicily 540,000. However, food poverty does not spare the North: in Lombardy, there are over 714,000, in Veneto over 396,000, in Lazio 745,000. In percentage terms, Calabria has the highest incidence (31.7%), followed by Puglia (21.3%) and Campania (18.4%). Lombardy has 8.3%, Lazio 15.2%. Compared to 2019, progress has been seen in some Southern regions, such as Basilicata (-14.4 points) and Sicily (-13.6), but alarming signs are emerging in areas such as Calabria, which has recorded a +14.8 point, and Sardinia with +4.9. Overall, 2023 marks a reversal of the trend compared to previous years: food deprivation is increasing in all macro-areas of the country , albeit with varying intensities.

People between the ages of 35 and 44 are the most exposed , a group with concentrated economic and family responsibilities, often lacking sufficient stability. Employment status is also a determining factor: the highest rates are found among the unemployed, precarious workers, and those excluded from the labor market. Housing conditions are another key factor: those who rent at market prices are much more exposed than those who own a home or live in subsidized housing. Family composition also plays a role: large, single-parent, or single-person families are more affected because a single income must cover high expenses or because their income is inadequate compared to the cost of living. A further factor of vulnerability is migration background: among people of non-European origin, the rate of food deprivation is 23.4%, compared to 18.2% among those of European origin and 10.5% among those born in Italy. In particular, migrant women living in Southern Italy are among the most affected, as inequalities related to their origin compound economic, housing, and employment issues, widening the gap in access to decent food.

Food poverty in Italy isn't measured solely by income. To understand its extent, it's also necessary to examine the consumption behavior of families, who are increasingly forced to save on food, one of the few flexible items in the household budget. According to ISTAT data, in 2023, 15.6% of Italian families—over 4 million households—were at risk of food poverty, meaning their food expenditure was below the national average. This figure confirms the growing phenomenon, especially in the South. Sardinia leads the way: 27.2% of families are below the threshold. Molise (24.6%), Calabria (21.9%), and Puglia (20.6%) follow. In the North, the figures are lower, but even here, unexpected challenges are emerging: in Trentino-Alto Adige (21%) and Lombardy (17.7%), vulnerable families exceed the national average, signaling a spread of the problem even in traditionally more stable areas.

From a welfare response to an integrated strategy. In the absence of a structured national strategy, the response to food poverty in Italy remains fragmented and focused on welfare. This is demonstrated by the approach of the 2021–2027 National Inclusion Program, which limits itself to the free distribution of basic necessities, without a comprehensive definition or reflection on the problem. ActionAid draws attention to an approach that remains emergency-based, with fragmented policies and monitoring tools that are insufficiently aligned with reality. A change of pace is needed: more effective metrics to detect the phenomenon; the recognition of school meals as an essential public service; effective integration between social and food policies; and a strengthening of the role of local authorities in defining interventions.

"Increasing aid isn't enough. We need a public system based on social justice, universalism, and participation. Recognizing the right to adequate nutrition means moving beyond the emergency mentality and addressing the structural causes of the problem. Only in this way will it be possible to design more equitable, inclusive policies capable of restoring dignity and nutritional autonomy to everyone," concludes Sensi .

Photo by Alessandro Cimma/Lapresse