Food Insecurity in a “Welfare Paradise” : a case study on the role of food banks on food security in Sweden

Sammanfattning

The global food system faces a critical paradox, rising food insecurity alongside large-scale food waste. A sustainable food system should ensure food security for all. In Sweden, despite its strong welfare reputation, inequality has contributed to growing food insecurity, while significant food waste persists. Food banks have emerged as a potential solution to both issues, yet their role on food security, especially from the perspective of users, remains underexplored in Sweden. Therefore aim of this study is to critically assess the role of food banks in enhancing food security through the perspectives of their users. Thus, this study addresses the research gap, offering new insights into their role in addressing food insecurity within a sustainable food system. The methodology included a systematised literature review of 10 articles and 15 semi-structured interviews with food bank users and workers. Findings revealed consistent themes across both studies, particularly the emotional dimensions of food bank use, such as stigma, shame, and strategies to manage these feelings. This study shows that while food banks offer crucial support, partially relieving food insecurity, they remain unstable and uneven solutions due to logistical, regulatory, and structural limitations, acting only as “band-aid” solutions.. The study highlights the need for future research on government policy and sustainable food redistribution. Aligning food systems with the food waste hierarchy, prioritising prevention and ensuring surplus food is redirected to those in need is essential for long-term food security.