The presentation of the results of the 2025 Socio-Food Survey in the Legislature of the City of Buenos Aires brought to the table an institutional experience that questions traditional methods of information production for public policy.
With this presentation, the Social Observatory for Inclusion of the Padre Pepe Mission, which emerged from a community organization in Barrio 21-24 of Barracas, positioned itself as an actor that combines grassroots work, data systematization and critical reading of the economic and social context.
The survey – based on 759 surveys conducted between July and September 2025 in community kitchens in Municipalities 1, 4, 7 and 9 – confirmed that food has become a crucial part of daily life in the popular sectors. 65% of respondents visit the soup kitchen three to five times a week, while a significant percentage visit more than one to supplement their diet. 70%, in turn, said they had changed their diet for economic reasons, primarily by reducing the quantity or quality of food.
Authoritarians don’t like that
The practice of professional and critical journalism is a mainstay of democracy. That is why it bothers those who believe that they are the owners of the truth.
“The discussion aims to make us think about who produces the information with which decisions are made,” said Julián Eyzaguirre, director of the observatory, in the presentation held on December 11 in the Montevideo Hall of the Buenos Aires Parliament. “For years, community organizations have been supporting food and other needs in neighborhoods. There are laws that accompany the work of community groups, but in the current context that is not enough. That is why we propose to transform these everyday experiences into evidence, into input for the design of public policies, to contest the meaning and respond to what is urgent and necessary,” he added.
The report was presented by the observatory team – also consisting of Facundo Ritterband, project coordinator; Mirna Florentín, director of the Padre Pepe Mission; and Nilce Samudio, President of the Civic Association and Community Participation Center “Padre Pepe de la Sierra” – and with the participation of officials and institutional representatives such as Facundo Ramírez, Director of Food Policy of the Government of Buenos Aires; Claudia Negri, deputy of the Unión por la Patria and vice dean of the UBA Faculty of Medicine, and Andrea Pins, technical coordinator of the Food Policy Directorate.
One of the main focuses of the study was the connection between nutrition and health. Almost 39% of households surveyed live with some dietary restrictions, mainly related to diabetes and high blood pressure. However, a significant proportion do not adhere to the specified diets.
Although a large proportion of households receive support from the Food Policy Directorate in Buenos Aires, the Observatory warns that resources are often insufficient to ensure a balanced diet. “If the income is only enough for flour and highly processed foods, the result is bread today and health problems tomorrow,” summarized Mirna Florentín, director of the Padre Pepe Mission.
Meanwhile, the coordination with the observatory was appreciated by the municipal executive. “The production of data from the territory allows food policy to be adapted,” said Facundo Ramírez, Director of Food Policy, who also confirmed the commitment of his department and its role in addressing the needs that arise in this context.
In addition, legislator Claudia Negri emphasized the importance of the legislature having empirical information for the regulatory debate. “Without data, public policy is trapped in slogans,” concluded the UxP MP.
About The Author
