World Hunger Could Double as Coronavirus Disrupts Food Supplies

The number of people going hungry around the world could double in just a few months as the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on food supplies and hurts incomes.

That’s according to a group of major food companies, industry bodies and academics, which warned that those suffering from chronic hunger may surge from about 800 million amid mounting food-supply risks. The threat is acute for poor regions like sub-Saharan Africa.

“There could not be a more important time in which to keep trade flows open and predictable,” according to a letter to world leaders signed by Nestle SA, Unilever NV, Danone SA and PepsiCo Inc.