Exploring the relationship between food literacy and food insecurity: a systematic review.

Abstract

Background/objectives: Interest in food insecurity (FI) has intensified amid global efforts to address dietary and nutritional issues. Food literacy (FL) has emerged as a key competency for promoting healthy eating behaviors and potentially mitigating FI. This systematic review synthesized evidence on the relationship between FL and FI by summarizing their definitions and components, comparing measurement tools, and examining overall trends and characteristics of their association.

Materials/methods: This review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework. Studies examining FL and FI as primary variables were identified from PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Nine studies published between 2019 and 2025 were included. Methodological quality was assessed using JBI checklists, and findings were synthesized narratively due to study heterogeneity.

Results: The included studies employed cross-sectional, quasi-experimental (pre-post), mixed-methods, and cluster randomized controlled designs. FI was primarily assessed using definitions proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization or the United States Department of Agriculture. FL was commonly measured using frameworks based on Vidgen and Gallegos (2014). Most cross-sectional studies reported an inverse relationship between FI and FL. However, one cross-sectional study found no significant relationship, suggesting that sociocultural and economic factors may influence this association. Intervention studies generally showed improvements in FL and reductions in FI or related behaviors.

Conclusion: Most studies indicated that individual FL levels were associated with FI status. In some studies, this relationship appeared to be influenced by sociodemographic, economic, and cultural factors, although these findings were not consistently reported. The findings suggested that combining FL education with structural strategies may more effectively alleviate FI. Future research should use standardized measurement tools and longitudinal or randomized controlled designs to clarify the observed associations and potential mechanisms underlying the relationship between FL and FI.