1 in 5 Europeans does not have enough to eat

One in five Europeans does not have sufficient access to food. That is the claim made by the 360 organisations behind a new European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). According to them, 42 million Europeans go to bed hungry every other day, while nearly 60 million tonnes of food are wasted each year.

Through the initiative, the organisations aim to enshrine the right to food in law across the European Union. To achieve this, at least one million signatures are required from citizens in a minimum of seven Member States.

More people turning to food banks

The organisers point out that more people in the Netherlands are also becoming dependent on food aid. According to them, the number of people receiving support from the Voedselbank increased by 7.5% compared with 2024. This brings the total to 155,600 people. The campaign states that those affected are often low-income households, older people and single parents. In addition, many people who need help are said not to find their way to the food bank. Shame, fear of formal institutions and a lack of documentation are cited as reasons.

Campaigner Liz Kunst describes the situation as unacceptable. “I find it shocking that 1 in 5 Europeans do not have enough to eat. We are one of the richest economies in the world, aren’t we?”

Call for new regulations

Through the citizens’ initiative, the organisations are calling on the European Commission to introduce legislation in several areas. These include fair food systems, support for small-scale farmers and nature-inclusive agriculture. They are also advocating clear food labelling, regulation of ultra-processed foods and measures to reduce food waste. If the initiative gains sufficient support, the European Commission will be required to indicate whether, and how, it intends to proceed with new legislation.

Goodfoodforall.eu