Unhealthy diets contribute 8.1% to the Dutch burden of disease, with about 12,900 deaths and €6 billion in care costs. The MKBA by New Economy uses this to show the health stakes behind food policy. The figures connect food access directly to public health spending. Without a calculation, the social value of informal food initiatives stays invisible, while the cost of inaction keeps rising.
A social cost-benefit analysis values the network’s benefits against public spending and avoidable social costs. This is relevant for municipalities, city districts and organisations working on food security, poverty and public health.