Addressing the food, nutrition and environmental nexus: the role of socio-economic status in the nutritional and environmental sustainability dimensions of dietary patterns in Chile

Abstract

The effects of climate change and water scarcity on food security in Latin America and the prevalence of metabolic risk factors that increase the likelihood of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Chilean citizens are considered two significant challenges. The 2020 Sustainable Development Goals Report shows that an increasing number of people are suffering from food insecurity, and the growing stress on the environment associated with food production and resource exploitation. Therefore, the evaluation and monitoring of nutritional habits must be addressed because of their central role in meeting healthy and sustainable food goals. The objective of this study was to assess the environmental impacts (carbon and water footprint), nutritional quality and cost of diets of different socio-economic subgroups in Chile, mapping environmental hotspots and food insecurity. It was found that higher income was associated with higher environmental burdens related to food choices and higher dietary costs. Carbon and water footprints ranged from 2.42 to 4.74 kg CO2eq·person−1·day−1 and 1683–3110 L·person−1·day−1 for the first and fifth quintile, respectively. Chilean residents in the highest socio-economic quintile consumed more meat and fewer starch-based products than those in the lowest quintile. Meat was the main contributor to the carbon (56%–59%) and water (40%–43%) footprints and the determining factor in the differences between income quintiles. Although current diets in Chile do not meet nutritional recommendations, diet quality also increased with socioeconomic status. These findings could serve as a reference to implement public policies in Chile, ensuring healthy eating and food security in the context of climate change and water scarcity