Poor nutrition in developing countries is costing firms $850bn annually – report

Business is paying a high price for inadequate diets of employees, research shows, with experts calling on companies to provide living wage and subsidised food

Malnutrition among workers in developing countries is costing businesses up to $850bn (676bn) a year, according to analysis of the hidden impact of poor diet on productivity.

Worst affected were industries relying on manual labour, including mining, agriculture and construction, according to a report by Chatham House and the consultancy Vivid Economics. But it found big losses caused by malnutrition in all 13 business sectors studied, including health and education.