The United Nations has reported that the cost of maintaining a healthy diet has risen by 25% in the last five years, making it unaffordable for one-third of the global population. This information was presented in the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) upcoming report, the 2026 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.
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According to the FAO, a healthy diet now costs an average of $4.28 per person per day when adjusted for purchasing power parity. Maximo Torero Cullen, the FAO's chief economist, noted that 2.69 billion people—roughly one in three—are unable to afford such a diet. The complete report is set to be unveiled on July 21 at the FAO's headquarters in Rome.
The report indicates that costs are not uniformly distributed among food types. For instance, staple foods such as beans and grains represent 13% of a healthy diet's cost, while animal products account for nearly 30%, and fruits and vegetables make up 16%. Torero emphasized that the primary issue is not calorie production but rather making nutrient-rich foods more affordable. He suggested that enhancing local food production could significantly decrease healthy diet costs.
In Africa, the costs could drop by almost 80% if local foods were prioritized instead of relying on a standardized global food basket. To address this issue, Torero proposed that government subsidies should focus more on nutrient-rich foods rather than on staples like rice and wheat. Additionally, investments in local infrastructure and logistics could help reduce costs, as 70–75% of the expenses associated with a healthy diet arise after food is harvested.
Torero highlighted that Latin America, particularly the Caribbean, faces the highest diet costs, potentially due to a focus on exporting food products instead of ensuring sufficient local production to lower prices. Looking ahead, two uncertain factors could influence food prices: potential disruptions from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, affecting fertilizer supply, and the anticipated impact of a significant El Niño weather pattern expected to peak at the end of 2026.