Friday, August 14, 2026

Latest from Food Politics: Weekend good news (at least in part): global hunger reduced!

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has released its annual report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI). From the press release The good news Global hunger declined for a third consecutive year in ...
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By Marion Nestle

Weekend good news (at least in part): global hunger reduced!

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has released its annual report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI).

From the press release

The good news

Global hunger declined for a third consecutive year in 2025, demonstrating that progress is possible.

The not-so-good news

However, the improvements remain fragile, unevenly distributed and insufficient to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The report emphasizes cost issues

Healthy diets are essential to achieving SDG 2, but remain economically out of reach for large segments of the global population. In the context of persistent cost-of-living pressures, reducing the cost of a healthy diet (CoHD) is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition to enhance diet quality, and thus improve nutrition, health and development outcomes.

The high costs come from what happens after foods are produced

Post-farmgate activities account for 70 to 75 percent of what consumers pay, with up to 40 percent of value chain costs accumulating in midstream processing, logistics and wholesale. Improving efficiency at these stages is essential for lowering the prices of perishable foods that compose
healthy diets.

As for what to do

Public spending is most effective when directed towards the higher-cost food groups. Broad fiscal support to already low-cost staples generates limited improvements in overall dietary affordability.

Comment

We still have lots of work to do.

____________________

Arriving Sept 8. For a 30% discount, pre-order here using code UCPSAVE30.

The post Weekend good news (at least in part): global hunger reduced! appeared first on Food Politics by Marion Nestle

Now Available: What to Eat Now

My new book, What to Eat Now, is officially out!

It's both a field guide to food shopping in America and a reflection on how to eat well—and deliciously.

For more information and to order, click here.

You can explore the full archive of this (almost) daily blog at foodpolitics.comwhere you'll also find information about my books, articles, media interviews, upcoming lectures, favorite resources, and FAQs.


​​​​​​​

Marion Nestle

Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, Emerita


© Marion Nestle. You're receiving this email because you've signed up to receive updates from us.

If you'd prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe.


Thursday, August 13, 2026

Latest from Food Politics: Pet food safety and other issues: a short roundup

As is my wont, I collect items about pet food. Safety The CDC’s web page on pet food safety makes three main points: Pet food and treats can sometimes be contaminated with germs that make people and pets sick. CDC does not recommend feeding raw pet ...
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By Marion Nestle

Pet food safety and other issues: a short roundup

As is my wont, I collect items about pet food.

Safety

The CDC’s web page on pet food safety makes three main points:

  • Pet food and treats can sometimes be contaminated with germs that make people and pets sick.
  • CDC does not recommend feeding raw pet food or treats to dogs and cats.
  • Talk to a veterinarian for advice on how to maintain a safe and healthy diet for your pet.

The FDA’s webpage on pet food recalls lists 12 in 2026 so far.   Of these,

  • 3 are due to foreign contaminants
  • 5 are due to inappropriate levels of vitamin D or thiamine
  • 4 are caused by listeria, salmonella, or other microbial contamination

Examples:

Other issues of interest

Comment

Pet food, as I keep saying, is a category of the overall food system.  What happens with human foods also occurs in pet foods.  We have one, united food supply.

____________________

Arriving Sept 8. For a 30% discount, pre-order here using code UCPSAVE30.

The post Pet food safety and other issues: a short roundup appeared first on Food Politics by Marion Nestle

Now Available: What to Eat Now

My new book, What to Eat Now, is officially out!

It's both a field guide to food shopping in America and a reflection on how to eat well—and deliciously.

For more information and to order, click here.

You can explore the full archive of this (almost) daily blog at foodpolitics.comwhere you'll also find information about my books, articles, media interviews, upcoming lectures, favorite resources, and FAQs.


​​​​​​​

Marion Nestle

Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, Emerita


© Marion Nestle. You're receiving this email because you've signed up to receive updates from us.

If you'd prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe.


Latest from Food Politics: Weekend good news (at least in part): global hunger reduced!

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has released its annual report on the State of Food Security and Nutriti...