Almost ten million Argentine children eat less meat and dairy because they are poorer

Some 9.9 million children in Argentina They eat less meat and dairy products due to the increase in family poverty, and in addition the income of almost half of the households with children is not enough to cover basic expenses for food, health and education, according to a survey by the United Nations Fund for Children. Children (Unicef) released this Wednesday and compares the current situation with that of a year ago.

In families, the consumption of vegetables and fruits also decreased (-58%) and the intake of noodles and flour increased (+24%), according to the eighth national survey of households with children and adolescents who Unicef ​​Argentina has been doing since 2020.

The study maintains that more than a million children stopped eating a meal – breakfast, lunch, snack or dinner – due to lack of money, since in seven out of ten homes where this happens, the person in charge is busy and, within them, more than 60%, informally.

In turn, three out of ten families had to resort to a loan or deposit to buy food.

Argentine families, increasingly in debt

“Faced with insufficient income, families go into debt, stop buying nutritious foods or medicines, which significantly worsens the quality of life of their members.“explained the representative of Unicef ​​ArgentinaLuisa Brumana, through a statement.

“These data on the socioeconomic situation seek to contribute to decision-making for the development of policies that allow these households to escape poverty, in accordance with our mandate of cooperation with national and provincial States.“, he noted regarding the study carried out by telephone to 1,313 households between April 15 and May 9.

Argentina is going through macroeconomic imbalances, which are reflected in inflation that rose to 289.4% annually last April.

The Unicef ​​study reveals that in nine out of ten families, the income is not enough to buy the same amount of basic products as in 2023, while in 82%, the income cannot cover specific children’s expenses, such as school supplies, transportation, clothing and footwear.

In this context, 23% of households stopped purchasing medicines; by 32%, medical and dental check-ups were reduced; and in 41%, savings are used for current expenses.

In the middle sectors, 9% of families had to withdraw from health insurance or transfer their children to school, while the use of credit cards to purchase food increased.

These restrictions take place in a context in which more than half of households access some income transfer policy from the State, according to Unicef.

The specialist in Social Inclusion and Rights Monitoring at Unicef ​​Argentina, Sebastián Waisgrais, called “prioritize resources for children“, given that “The budget items of the National Administration aimed at children and adolescents show a drop of 25% in real terms in the first five months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023″he warned.