The Plate May Be Full but We Are Still Hungry
Why Egypt’s Fight Against Inflation Must Prioritise Nutrition
A Promising Economic Forecast and a Different Household Reality
The economic forecast in early 2026 offers a sigh of relief as it presents, according to the data of the
Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS), a relief in the annual headline inflation
to 10.3% in December 2025. For a macroeconomist, this may reflect ‘’stabilisation’’, although with the
probability of being short-lived, it still is considered positive. By contrast, for the Egyptian family in a low income household, the reality is completely different given that the purchasing power still remains
excruciatingly undermined.
Even though price hikes have slowed, the actual price levels still remain significantly high. Purchasing
power has been eroded by the so-called ‘’Cumulative Inflation’’ in the past three years which forced a shift
in the household behaviour. Not only do we find families and individuals to be eating less, they are eating
Worse. What do we mean by worse? If we look closely, in a bid to stretch the Egyptian Pound, nutrientdense foods such as proteins, dairy, and fresh produce, are all being forcingly swapped for cheaper
calorie-dense foods such as oils, sugars, and carbohydrates. Notably, this does affect the ability of the
individuals, households, and even population to maintain what is called ‘’Nutritional Smoothing’’ which
reflects the ability of populations to maintain stable consistent and nutritional health outcomes.
Therefore, several households are witnessing a transition from the crisis of hunger to a crisis of
malnutrition, a challenge that often faces all age groups especially highly-vulnerable ones such as the
elders (+60 of age) and children. This is ‘’Hidden Hunger’’ and if not addressed with significant care, it will
cost Egypt and its population more than any inflation spike.
The Double Burden Dilemma: A Two-Fronts Challenge
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes this situation as the double burden of malnutrition, which manifests in two interconnected forms:
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Micronutrient Deficiency (Hidden Hunger)
Even though stunting rates dropped in 2021 to 12.8%
and have shown progress, anemia surged drastically. The health data indicates that anemia
prevalence among children under the age of five has sharpy increased which in turn affects roughly
around 43% of this demographic. If looked at closely, this is not due to lack of food, rather, it is the
lack of nutrients i.e., iron, zinc, vitamin A, B, C, D, and other essential nutrients. -
Diet-Related Diseases and Obesity
Relying on cheap fillers to combat hunger has kept obesity
rates high. This is critical as even though children, adults, and the elderly may keep their stomachs
full with calorie-dense foods, they still do not get enough to fuel their brains.
In this context, a full stomach does not equate to adequate nourishment. Malnutrition therefore remains a form of hunger—one that is less visible but equally damaging. Beyond its health implications, malnutrition represents a significant economic burden.
A filled stomach, in that case, is not an ideal target, rather, it still is considered a form of hunger in which
the individual requires to fulfil it with proper nutrition. That being said, malnutrition is not just a healthrelated issue but it is an economic anchor.
With that comes the question: What is the economic cost of inaction?
On the national economy level, it is estimated that child stunting alone contributes to a 2% to 3%
reduction in the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to the loss in productivity and high healthcare
expenditures. Moreover, investing in nutritional security provides high returns as the Roadmap to
Accelerate Anemia Reduction estimates that every $1 invested to reduce anemia among women provides a
potential economic return of $12. This can be explained simply in the below equation:
$12 (Return)
Economic Return Ratio (Anemia) = ────────────
$1 (Investment)
That being said, in the ‘’1,000 Golden Days’’ initiative a highlight of global research integrated in the
Egyptian policy documents demonstrates that every dollar spent on the 1,000 days of a child’s life would
save upwards of $138 in future health and social costs.
From Feeding to Nourishing: Strategic Recommendations from the EFB Perspective
Combating hidden hunger is both feasible and cost-effective when resources are allocated strategically and nutritional security is prioritised. From the Egyptian Food Bank (EFB) perspective, three key shifts are essential for civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, and government actors:
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Fortification Is Not a Luxury, It Is a Standard
National food assistance baskets—whether distributed by EFB or through programmes such as Takaful and Karama under the Ministry of Social Solidarity—must systematically include fortified foods. Scaling the distribution of iron-fortified flour and iodised salt is particularly critical in high-risk regions such as Upper Egypt, where anemia prevalence remains high. -
Protecting the First 1,000 Days
Pregnant women and children under the age of two should be prioritised. Introducing a targeted Nutrition Top-Up package rich in micronutrients and high-quality protein is essential. Leveraging existing social protection databases will enable effective targeting and help prevent irreversible cognitive stunting. -
Nutrition Education as a Core Pillar
Food distribution points should function not only as delivery channels but also as community knowledge hubs. Integrating simple, scalable nutrition education—such as how to maximise protein absorption from plant-based sources like lentils—can empower households to make healthier dietary choices within constrained budgets.
Conclusion
Food-related challenges are evolving, and responses must evolve accordingly. Hunger today extends beyond an empty plate to include the absence of proper nutrition. Addressing this crisis requires a transition from feeding households to nourishing people.
A proper plate is not merely a meal; it is an investment in the cognitive capital of the generation that will shape Egypt’s future. This raises a fundamental question: can hunger truly be considered defeated if stomachs are full, yet human potential remains starved?