A survey conducted by OpinionWay for the NGO Action Against Hunger reveals that 7 million adults in metropolitan France experience food shortages. This figure corresponds to 13 percent of the population declaring a lack of food. The study was released on Monday, October 12, 2026, just days before World Food Day on October 16, 2026.
Among those aged 18 to 24, the situation is more acute. Twenty‑five percent of young people in this bracket report they do not have enough to eat, either often or sometimes. Hélène Quéau, speaking for Action contre la faim, said the figures show critical levels of food precarity among young people and stressed that the issue is insufficiently present in public debate.
When respondents were asked why they lack food, roughly 80 percent pointed to financial constraints as the main cause.
Jade, a working mother, said she struggles to afford regular supermarket prices due to high costs.
Beyond simply not having enough, 39 percent of those surveyed said they cannot afford the foods they would prefer or that are more nutritious.
Nathalie, an unemployed mother living in Paris, relies on a solidarity grocery store that currently aids 150 families. Jade, a working mother, said she struggles to afford regular supermarket prices due to high costs.
Action contre la faim is urging the adoption of a framework law that would recognize the right to food. According to the NGO, such a law would set clear obligations for the state and local authorities, better coordinate public policies, and ensure long‑term monitoring.
Alongside the domestic legal push, Action contre la faim is backing a European Citizens' Initiative aimed at securing one million signatures by January 2027. The goal is to have the European Commission formally examine a request for a legislative framework guaranteeing the right to food across the EU.