Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) Indicator

Published on 10 Oct 2025

• A new Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) indicator was adopted at the 56th UN Statistical Commission in New York to track progress towards SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). 

• MDD focuses on the variety of consumed foods, crucial for health and well-being beyond just calorie intake. 

• It monitors the intake of 10 food groups (plus other vegetables and fruits) over 24 hours in sample populations. 

• Managed jointly by FAO and UNICEF, MDD is a binary indicator (yes/no) assessing if women and children of reproductive age consumed at least five of these food groups in the preceding 24 hours. 

• This ensures a focus on nutritious food consumption for these key demographic groups.

Keywords:

Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) SDG 2 Zero Hunger Health FAO UNICEF Nutrition Poverty well being