CAPE TOWN – Food security in South Africa deteriorated in 2025, and hunger remains stubbornly high even as food inflation has eased, according to the South African Food Security Index 2026.

In response to the country’s significant research gap on hunger and food insecurity, the Shoprite Group commissioned the Index to provide credible, independent, and reliable data to monitor South Africa’s progress in addressing hunger over time.  

Now in its third year, the Index measures three dimensions of food security using the publicly available household survey and other public data.

Availability was measured by comparing food inflation to general inflation, to assess whether sufficient food is being produced. Access was captured through self-reported household hunger data, to determine whether people can obtain food. Utilisation was tracked using self-reported dietary diversity information, to examine whether people’s diets contain sufficient nutrition.

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In 2025, the Index score declined to 52.6, down from 56.5 in 2024. Food inflation running ahead of general inflation reduced the availability of food, while access and dietary diversity stayed fairly stable.

While official food inflation has since eased to 1% (June 2026), lower prices do not mean families can consistently afford the nutritious, varied diets they need. 

For the first time, it is complemented by insights derived from purchasing behaviour across the Shoprite Group’s supermarkets, showing households moving towards smaller pack sizes and cheaper products, often at the expense of dietary diversity. 

Where the squeeze hurts most

The report, produced by a research team including economists from Stellenbosch University, found that non-food costs are squeezing households hardest.

By March 2026, housing and utilities contributed 39% of headline inflation, more than double food’s 19% share. Household vulnerability to hunger reached its highest level since 2010, with 12% of households reporting hunger in 2025, up slightly from 11.9% in 2024, while 14.7% of individuals experienced hunger.

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Rural female-headed households remain the most vulnerable, with the share below the food poverty line rising from 38.4% in 2023 to 41.7% in 2025. Limpopo performed surprisingly well in 2025, while the Northern Cape and North West recorded significantly lower values as hunger rose and food variety fell.

Beyond the food basket

“Easing food inflation is welcome, but it does not mean families can automatically afford the nutritious diets they need. The Index shows that responses must reflect local realities because outcomes differ so sharply between provinces. Internal selling price inflation in the Shoprite Group’s South African supermarket business was contained to 0.8% in our 2026 financial year, well below official food inflation of 3.9%. However, price is only one part of food security. Rising electricity, transport, and other essential costs are eroding household budgets, so support must reach beyond the food basket,” says Sanjeev Raghubir, chief sustainability officer at the group.

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The retailer supports over 320 community food gardens and 148 Early Childhood Development centres, operates 35 mobile soup kitchens and over the past financial year donated surplus food and goods worth R341.6 million to beneficiary organisations. 

“While no single organisation can solve hunger, our intention remains to build a clearer understanding of the challenge, keep it in the national conversation and act where we can make a meaningful difference. Our hope is that this Index helps turn better evidence into practical action,” Raghubir concludes.