The economic feasibility of sustainable and healthy diets: a price-based analysis in Italy

Abstract This study focuses on the economic dimension of food poverty and aims to develop a replicable methodology for estimating the cost of adhering to Healthy and Sustainable Diet (HSD) patterns in Italy. Using a novel dataset built through web scraping from the Osservatorio Prezzi e Tariffe, we estimate diet costs across different population groups in line with national nutritional guidelines. The dataset provides detailed price information for key food categories across Italian provinces, enabling an assessment of local disparities in food affordability. To address missing data, we apply an imputation strategy that leverages spatial and temporal correlations. Results reveal substantial variation in HSD costs across provinces, with important implications for food poverty and social inequality. This work contributes to the broader discussion on the economic accessibility of sustainable diets and offers a methodological framework for estimating food costs using publicly available data. The findings have practical relevance for policymakers seeking to enhance access to nutritious and environmentally sustainable food options.