16th October: World Food Day

World Food Day is held every year on October 16th. On this day, more than 150 countries unite to raise awareness of the issues surrounding poverty and hunger.

According to World Hunger Statistics, 785 million people across the globe do not have enough food to sustain a healthy lifestyle. The number equals about one in nine people in the world. Surprisingly, the majority of hungry people live in developing countries. Poor nutrition causes 45% of deaths in children under the age of 5. That means just over 3 million children a year die because they don’t have access to enough nutritious food.

Over 150 countries observe World Food Day. In the United States, 450 national organizations sponsor the day. As part of their sponsorship, some of these organizations host World Food Day Sunday Dinners. World Food Day events in Africa, Asia, and Latin American include agricultural fairs, debates, folk dances, films, special ceremonies in the schools, and food package deliveries.

The theme for this year 2020 is “Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together. Our actions are our future.”

2019: Our Actions Are Our Future: Healthy Diets for a #ZEROHUNGER World