Believe it or not, the soaring prices of food have been found as a direct contributor to malnutrition. According to a survey around 90% of stunted children living in 36 countries including India, having high food prices has brought in the issue of malnutrition among the kids of poor people. Malnutrition kills 2.3 million children every year. Globally, it has left 170 million children stunted, and has weakened their mental and physical development. As per Save the Children report on ‘A High Price to Pay – The Impact of Rising and Volatile Food Prices on Children’s Nutrition and Food Security’, the new norm of high and volatile food prices is having the most impact in countries that already have high levels of malnutrition. The most immediate are dietary intake and exposure to disease. Good nutrition means more than simply getting enough food. Families must be able to grow or buy food containing all the energy and nutrients they need. Rising and volatile global food prices are pushing nutritious foods out of the reach of poor people. The resultant increase in malnutrition will have long-term effects on children.
Mohd Ziyaullah Khan
Nagpur, M.S.