Racial and Territorial Inequalities in Food Insecurity in One of the Largest Metropolises in Latin America: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2023-2024.

Abstract

<b>Objectives.</b> To assess racial and territorial inequalities in food insecurity at the municipal level in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, examining whether disparities persist across income strata and territories. <b>Methods.</b> We performed a population-based cross-sectional analysis of the first Municipal Food Insecurity Survey (2024), with a sample of 2000 households across 5 zones. Moderate to severe food insecurity (MS-FI) was measured using the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale. Relative risk ratios (RRRs) were estimated using multinomial logistic regression with complex survey design, adjusting for per capita income. <b>Results.</b> Households headed by Black individuals showed lower education, higher informal employment, lower income, and greater residence in slums and lower-development zones. MS-FI affected 22.9% of households headed by Black women versus 9.4% of those headed by White women. Among households earning one quarter or less of the minimum wage, MS-FI reached 57.7% in homes headed by Black individuals versus 29.8% in homes headed by White individuals. Disparities persisted at higher income levels. Adjusted RRRs remained elevated for households headed by Black individuals, particularly in the North (RRR = 2.83) and West (RRR = 2.68) zones. <b>Conclusions.</b> In Rio de Janeiro, MS-FI reflects structural racial and territorial inequalities beyond poverty alone. (<i>Am J Public Health</i>. Published online ahead of print July 23, 2026:e1-e10. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308566).