Food Insecurity in Affluent Societies: A Local Analysis Using the FIES

Food insecurity is a global and multifaceted issue, not only confined to low-income countries but also increasingly evident in affluent nations. The Committee on World Food Security (2012) defines it as a condition in which individuals always have consistent access to adequate food, encompassing physical, social, and economic dimensions. Recent data from FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO (2024) indicate that approximately 700 million people experienced hunger in 2023, with 30% of the global population facing varying degrees of food insecurity. In Europe, Eurostat (2024) reports that 9.5% of the EU population experienced severe food deprivation in 2023, struggling to afford a protein-rich meal every two days. This prevalence underscores the persistence of food insecurity, even in high-income countries, where factors such as economic downturns, the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and geopolitical instability further exacerbate the issue (Marino 2024). These challenges deepen poverty and social marginalisation, making food insecurity a key indicator of broader societal inequalities (Bernaschi 2020). The pioneering research of Sen (1981) and Dreze and Sen (1990) highlights the significant role of entitlements and socio-economic conditions in either constraining or facilitating access to food. Over time, research has increasingly recognised the need to address not only food availability but also its experiential and emotional dimensions (Radimer et al. 1990; HLPE, 2023). In this context, the FAO’s Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) has become pivotal in capturing these aspects, offering critical insights into the lived realities of those affected (Cafiero et al. 2018). While FIES is generally used at the national level, this article applies it to assess food insecurity at a local level, focusing on the metropolitan city of Rome, Italy, where economic inequalities intersect with social and territorial disparities. The findings reveal significant territorial inequalities, with marginalised populations being more vulnerable to food insecurity. These insights highlight the importance of targeted interventions and policies to address local disparities, emphasising the need to integrate experiential measures into food security assessments to foster social equity.