Pernambuco has the 7th highest level of food insecurity in the country

The situation is a reality in 37.5% (233 thousand) of homes in Pernambuco and occurs, at a serious level, in 6.5% of them

Food insecurity affects 233 thousand families in Pernambuco. Photo: Rafa Neddermeyer/Agência Brasil

Pernambuco is the state with the 7th highest rate of food insecurity in Brazil, according to the new National Household Sample Survey (PNAD) Continuous by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The result indicates that 233 thousand or 37.5% of Pernambuco households suffer from insufficient inputs when making daily meals. All states in the Northeast region are among the worst placed in the ranking.

The PNAD covered 3.5 million households in the state, during the fourth quarter (October to December) of 2023. 62.5% had food security. Among the 37.5% in a situation of insecurity, there are different degrees of the problem. Mild food insecurity was present in 23.5% of homes, moderate in 7.45% of them, while severe food insecurity affected 6.5% of these homes. Severe insecurity is the most severe form of low household access to food.

Thus, around 233 thousand households in Pernambuco experienced quantitative food deprivation, which affected not only adult family members, but also their children and adolescents. The research also points out that the situation in these households fluctuates and there is a disruption in family eating patterns. During the three months covered, the situation of serious insecurity led to hunger in some cases.

Food insecurity

The IBGE considers a household to be in a situation of food insecurity when residents have difficulty accessing food for a period of three months or more. The institute considers at least one of the scenarios: concern about food shortages before being able to buy or receive more; food shortages before being able to buy or receive more; impossibility of having a healthy and varied diet; reduction in food variety due to lack of money.