New figures reveal that, each day globally, 3.5 million photos of food are posted, liked and shared around the world1. That’s an online food conversation totalling 1.2 billion posts in the space of a year on a global scale. But we are sharing food so that it can be admired, not eaten. Shared, but not shared.

The World Food Programme (WFP) tells us that the latest figures show that 815 million people2 – or one in nine of the global population – still go to bed hungry. If one in nine of our food photos this week globally was instead a donation of a meal – just 25 cents – 2 million more people would be fed this week alone.

“As a society, we have never been more passionate about food. There are 1.2 billion social media posts using the hashtag #food each year. Yet 815 million people go hungry. This has to change,” said Cathryn Sleight, EVP Knorr. “As one of the world’s largest food brands, we can’t ignore this imbalance and we feel a responsibility to try and change these statistics for the better. The causes of global hunger are complex, but on World Food Day we invite people to join us in raising awareness of the problem and taking action. Whether it’s sharing our post or actually making a donation themselves through the WFP’s ShareTheMeal app, everyone can make a difference.”

“In 2016, WFP empowered over 14 million people with the power to choose and prepare the right food to share with their families,” said Prerana Issar, Director of Private Sector Partnerships for the World Food Programme. “This year on World Food Day, Knorr’s call to reach out and share a meal through social media is an inspiring example of how a simple action can make a big difference in someone’s life.”

The ShareTheMeal app is available to download here https://app.adjust.com/u0ts56, on iOS AND Android platforms.

This World Food Day, Knorr is giving food lovers the opportunity to turn their food posts into a real meal for someone in need.  On October 16th, each time Knorr’s #ShareTheMeal post is shared or retweeted on Facebook and Twitter, Knorr will donate the equivalent of one meal via the World Food Programme (WFP), up to a total of 1.5 million meals. Knorr is also encouraging people to download WFP’s ShareTheMeal app which enables them to take a food photo and donate as little as 47 cents, enough to feed a child for a day, with a simple tap on their smartphone.

The money donated by Knorr will give families in need – via WFP’s system of cash-based transfers – the means to choose and buy their own food with dignity and freedom. This year’s campaign builds upon the success of previous World Food Day activations, which have seen Knorr donate over 3 million nutritious school meals since 2014 through its partnership with the World Food Programme.

“As a society, we have never been more passionate about food. There are 1.2 billion social media posts using the hashtag #food each year. Yet 815 million people go hungry. This has to change,” said Cathryn Sleight, EVP Knorr. “As one of the world’s largest food brands, we can’t ignore this imbalance and we feel a responsibility to try and change these statistics for the better. The causes of global hunger are complex, but on World Food Day we invite people to join us in raising awareness of the problem and taking action. Whether it’s sharing our post or actually making a donation themselves through the WFP’s ShareTheMeal app, everyone can make a difference.”

“In 2016, WFP empowered over 14 million people with the power to choose and prepare the right food to share with their families,” said Prerana Issar, Director of Private Sector Partnerships for the World Food Programme. “This year on World Food Day, Knorr’s call to reach out and share a meal through social media is an inspiring example of how a simple action can make a big difference in someone’s life.”

The ShareTheMeal app is available to download here https://app.adjust.com/u0ts56, on iOS AND Android platforms.

Read more at PR News Wire: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/social-media-and-food-the-sharing-gap-300536424.html