Alimentación y nutrición en Venezuela: un volcán en erupción

Food and nutrition are a complex phenomenon, since it is caused by several factors. This article aimed to describe the evolution of the food and nutritional situation in Venezuela and the escalating deterioration that has been occurring in recent years. It starts with a historical account of what the Venezuelan sociodemographic context has been in the last half of the 20th century and the challenges at the time, as well as the analysis of the paradigm shift in the nutritional and food field that has led to the current crisis of food insecurity, which affects 9.3 million Venezuelans. The loss of governance and institutionalism in which the country is immersed, has had an impact on the way in which public policies were designed and implemented to intervene food and nutrition status of the population. The only existing food distribution network does not cover the nutritional needs of the most vulnerable individuals, whose quality of life has deteriorated amid a crisis of public services and hyperinflation that have had a deleterious effect on pregnant and lactating women, in their children under 5 years of age and in the elderly who make up the most neglected populations. A summary of anthropometric nutritional evaluations carried out in recent years by Fundacion Bengoa and other partner organizations is also presented. Finally, due to breaking the negative impact and severity of the factors analyzed on the dimensions of food security (access, availability, bioutilization and stability) requires the implementation of articulated policies that ensure the violated right to health and food, while incorporating the various sectors responsible for ensuring food, food security and health of the population, some public policies are suggested based on evidence of successful scientific research; but, more importantly, based on local needs and adjusted to their context.