Carlos Ingham, founder of Red de Alimentos and partner at Linzor Capital, warned this week that Chile is facing a massive, silent hunger crisis that the public largely ignores. In an interview on the program La Mesa, the business leader argued that the country hides its food insecurity behind a facade of modern consumerism.
“The hunger in Chile exists, but it is invisible, and a good part of the country prefers not to see it,” Ingham said. He noted that the problem is not characterized by the traditional imagery of extreme poverty, but rather by “in-home” food insecurity that remains hidden behind closed doors.
Ingham challenged the common perception that widespread access to basic consumer goods like smartphones and quality clothing proves the absence of poverty. He argued that these outward signs of progress often mask deep-seated economic fragility within households.
Data reveals deep food insecurity
To support his assessment, Ingham pointed to alarming statistics. He stated that one in three elderly people in Chile is at risk of malnutrition, while two out of every five citizens cannot afford a healthy diet. Additionally, he emphasized that 700,000 people currently suffer from severe hunger in the country.
Ingham, a former CEO of JP Morgan Chile, observed that these figures are likely underestimated. The lack of visibility, he suggested, prevents the public from fully grasping the scale of the crisis.
Beyond the hunger itself, the businessman criticized the lack of a consistent culture of solidarity in Chile. While the country shows generosity during national emergencies or specific events like the Teletón, he said that daily charitable support remains weak.
“We do not have a culture of solidarity in Chile,” Ingham remarked. “We believe we have it, but we don't. We have it for the Teletón and for emergencies. In day-to-day life, we don't.”
He noted that Red de Alimentos often serves as the only regular donor for many of the foundations it supports. The organization has distributed the equivalent of 300 million plates of food over the last 15 years, yet Ingham insists this is insufficient given the actual level of need.
He called on the business sector to move beyond simply donating surplus goods. “We cannot talk only about losses; we have to talk about what your contribution is beyond those losses,” he said. He urged companies to commit to more robust and consistent aid efforts to address the gaps in the current safety net.
