We make processed food for a reason. It's time to rethink their role in global food security.

By Rocco Renaldi

With 582 million people expected to be chronically undernourished by the end of this decade, we need to move beyond the simplistic narrative that casts processed foods as villains and recognize their essential role in addressing complex nutritional challenges. Processed foods are often misunderstood, yet they are vital in ensuring that everyone has enough to eat.?

Chief among these challenges is the double burden of malnutrition (DBM), which increasingly affects people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The DBM occurs when undernutrition and overnutrition coexist within the same population, household, or even individual. For instance, a child who is undernourished early in life may be more prone to obesity and related diseases as an adult. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 2.5 billion adults are overweight globally, while nearly 50% of deaths among children under 5 are linked to undernutrition. For LMICs, the economic impact of malnutrition costs LMICs an estimated $3 trillion annually (World Bank). This issue underscores the need for a more nuanced approach to food security—one that goes beyond mere calorie counts to ensure diets are diverse and balanced. Processed foods are uniquely positioned to fill this gap.?

However, processed foods often get a bad rap, seen as the antithesis of “good food”, but this view is overly simplistic. In reality, processed foods play crucial roles: enhancing food safety, extending shelf life, and ensuring food reaches people in under-resourced areas. In many developing countries, processed foods are a lifeline, ensuring stable or specialized food supplies anywhere natural disasters strike or conflict displaces thousands. Processed foods don’t just fill stomachs – they fill gaps in nutrition. For example, fortification processes add critical nutrients to everyday foods—like iron and vitamin B in cereals to prevent anemia, folic acid in flour to prevent neural tube defects, or milk and juices fortified with calcium and vitamin D for proper bone development and prevention of rickets. Food processing also incorporates functional ingredients, like prebiotics to boost gut health and antioxidants to combat oxidative stress. Processed foods aren’t just conveniences—they’re game-changes in the fight against malnutrition, especially for those most vulnerable.??

Moreover, processed foods are a cornerstone of a resilient food system. By reducing food waste and maximizing the use of raw materials, processed foods help ensure that we don’t run out of food when fresh options are limited. They also contribute to economic stability by creating jobs, driving innovation in food production, and supporting local economies. In emergencies, like natural disasters, processed foods provide a reliable source of nutrition when fresh food supply chains break down. This adaptability makes processed foods an essential tool in safeguarding food security, particularly in crises.?

Innovations in processed foods are also at the forefront of advancing food security. Fortified products combat nutrient deficiencies, while new technologies repurpose by-products into new food items (such as vegetable chips, nut butter, or animal feed) reducing waste and minimizing the carbon footprint associated with food production. These advancements are not only improving individual diets – they are strengthening the entire food system through enhancing its resilience in the face of global challenges.?

As World Food Day brings global attention to the challenges to food security, it also offers an opportunity to highlight the innovative and holistic solutions processed foods provide. With the theme, “Right to foods for a better life and future,” this day underscores that diverse, affordable, nutritious, and safe food is a fundamental human right. Given the pressures of population growth, climate change, and economic instability, we must leverage every tool—including processed foods—to secure this right for all.? In this context, processed foods could be the unsung hero, playing a critical role in sustainable food systems and fulfilling the right to food for all.?

Yet, when we indiscriminately vilify processed foods, we undermine their nutritional benefits and limit our ability to address global food security inclusively and effectively. By acknowledging the benefits of processed foods, we can make more informed choices that support global food security, address the double burden of malnutrition, and build resilience for the future. It’s time to rethink processed foods—not a problem to be solved, but a solution to be embraced.?

About Rocco Renaldi?

Secretary General, International Food & Beverage Alliance (IFBA)?

Rocco Renaldi is the Secretary General of the International Food & Beverage Alliance, a group of seven of the largest international food and beverage companies dedicated to developing, implementing, and promoting good practices on health and nutrition. Rocco led the development of IFBA’s current global commitments on product formulation and innovation, responsible marketing, nutrition information to consumers, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. Rocco represents IFBA to the World Health Organization, other U.N. agencies and government authorities. He maintains relationships with NGOs and leads the development of local initiatives modeled on the IFBA commitments around the world.?

About IFBA?

The International Food & Beverage Alliance was founded in 2008 by the CEOs of leading food and nonalcoholic beverage companies to help consumers eat?balanced diets and live healthier lives. On behalf of some of the world’s biggest food and beverage?consumer brands, IFBA engages with policymakers, nongovernmental organizations, and stakeholders to support global efforts to improve?public health, nutrition, and sustainable food systems. IFBA members continue to innovate to meet evolving consumer demands, improve product standards, and ensure access to safe, high-quality food globally. IFBA remains committed to continuous improvement, fortifying food systems to withstand future challenges. IFBA members include The Coca-Cola Company, Ferrero, General Mills, Grupo Bimbo, Kellanova, Mondelēz International, and PepsiCo.?