Hunger and malnutrition: The hidden crisis in Germany exposed!

Hunger and malnutrition: The hidden crisis in Germany exposed!

Around two billion people worldwide suffer from moderate to severe food insecurity and micronutrient deficiencies. These alarming figures are the result of a comprehensive investigation carried out by a research team at University of Göttingen was carried out in collaboration with Misereor. The newly developed poverty measurement method takes access to healthy food into account and shows that between 2.3 and 2.9 billion people lived in poverty in 2022. Unlike traditional measures that relate only 7 percent of global poverty to regions other than Africa and South Asia, the new approach identifies between 29 and 35 percent of poverty in these areas.

Statistics show that two thirds of people classified as poor live in sub-Saharan Africa. Jonas Stehl, a doctoral student at the University of Göttingen, also emphasizes that many people who are not considered extremely poor still do not have access to adequate nutrition. He calls for a review of the World Bank's approach to poverty.

Nutritional habits and social inequality

In Germany, increasing consumption of fast food, convenience products and sweets is noticeable. People with low incomes and less education have poorer diets than wealthier groups. The sociologist Paul Nolte states that it is not poverty itself, but the excessive consumption of fast food and television that is the main problem for socially disadvantaged classes. As a result, there is a clear connection between low income, low educational status and a higher risk of being overweight.

Studies show that socially disadvantaged people consume less fresh fruit, vegetables and low-fat products. Foods such as canned goods, fatty meats and processed products are more common in their households. In addition, the Hartz IV rate is not enough for a complete diet, which is on average a third more expensive than a “cheap” diet. This exacerbates the problem that financial poverty influences nutritional behavior, but does not always lead to malnutrition.

The Diet habits of these households show that everyday problems often push the question of a healthy diet into the background. Food consumption is heavily influenced by price, which hinders purchasing decisions and access to healthy food. Housekeeping skills and an awareness of healthy eating play a crucial role in a healthy lifestyle.

Global food crises and power relations

The global food situation is exacerbated not only by local problems, but also by the unequal distribution of power and resources in the global food system. According to the study, which in Global Hunger Index is discussed, starving and malnourished people are often from socially, economically and politically marginalized groups. Between 800 million people are hungry and a third of the adult population is overweight. This often goes hand in hand with the fact that a third of all food is wasted.

These inequalities are not accidental, but arise from various actors in the food system. Transnational food companies and agribusiness companies play a dominant role here. These developments should also be seen in the context of the United Nations goals of eliminating hunger and promoting food security. However, the SDGs do not take into account the various forms of malnutrition that are closely linked to power relations.

To address these pressing issues, a need for systematic analysis of power relations in the food system is highlighted, accompanied by initiatives that seek to change control over the system. Such movements advocate for food sovereignty and justice and attempt to question the dominance of large corporations.