Romania faces a paradox of food waste and poverty, with 41.5% of children at risk of social exclusion, according to Eurostat.

Even though Romania produces and throws away millions of tons of food every year, the country ranks 2nd in the EU at risk of poverty and social exclusion. Over 40% of Romanian children live in vulnerable conditions. The Food Bank Cluj draws attention to the imbalance between the food surplus and the high level of poverty, saving almost 1,500 tons of food in 2024. Andreea Bobiș emphasizes the need for coherent public policies to tackle the structural causes of poverty.