Food Security

PINKI DASS
Definition of Food Security
defines food security, as access by all people, at all times to sufficient food
or an active and healthy life. Food security includes at a minimum: the ready
availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, and an assured ability to
acquire food in socially acceptable ways.
Brief Definition of Food Deserts
According to The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 of June 18,
2008: Public Law 110 246, Section 7527, p.389 food deserts - are defined
as:
Definition of Food Deserts
(continued)
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National
Agriculture Library defines food deserts as:
urban neighborhoods and rural towns without ready access to
fresh, healthy, and affordable food.
Instead of supermarkets and grocery stores, these communities
may have no food access or are served only by fast food
restaurants and convenience stores that offer few healthy,
affordable food options.
Research Questions
Question #1: How do race/ethnicity impact access to food security and
access to fresh food & affordable food in the U.S.?

Question #2: How does income level impact ACCESS to food security?

Question #3: What are some of the main causes of food insecurities?
Hypothesis
Our research aims to show that food insecurity is highly prevalent in
communities of color as well as low income areas, at a rate unparalleled
in white communities and more affluent neighborhoods.

I postulated that minorities and low income individuals are at an increased

of food insecurity throughout the United States.
Variables
Independent Variable - Race/Ethnicity: Non-Hispanic White, Non-Hispanic
Black/African-American, Hispanic, Minority
Dependent Variable - Economic: Median family income (dollars), Individuals
w/ income < poverty, Households receiving public assistance, vacant housing
units, population age 16+ in civilian labor force and unemployed.
Literature Review
Race and Ethnicity
Predominantly African-American neighborhoods contain 52% of the
supermarkets in comparison to what is offered within white neighborhoods.
Neighborhoods comprised of mostly Latino individuals contain 32% of the
supermarkets that are available in non-Latino neighborhoods. (Powell et al.,
2007)

The predominantly African-American neighborhoods had a smaller selection of

supermarkets and more grocery stores. Grocery store prices were similar to
supermarket prices, but of poorer quality. (Block and Kouba, 2006)

The quality of fresh produce was significantly lower in predominantly African

American, low socioeconomic position communities in comparison to racially
diverse, middle socioeconomic position communities. (Zenk et al., 2006)
Literature Review
Prevalence of Supermarkets
The lowest income neighborhoods had nearly 30% less supermarkets than
the highest income neighborhoods (Weinberg, 1995).

Compare this to the food environment in Philadelphia, where the highest

income neighborhoods had 156% more supermarkets than the lowest
income neighborhoods (Weinberg, 1995).

Low-income neighborhoods contain quadruple the amount of unaffiliated

grocery stores and half as many affiliated supermarkets when compared to
neighborhoods more economic resources and capital. (Moore and Diez-
Roux, 2006)
U.S. Households by food
security status, 2015
An estimated 87.3 percent of American
households were food secure throughout the
entire year in 2015.
The remaining households (12.7 percent)
were food insecure at least some time during
the year, including 5.0 percent with low food
security meaning that the food intake of one
or more household members was reduced and
their eating patterns disrupted at times during
the year because the household lacked money
and other resources for food.
This prevalence of food insecurity is down
significantly from 19.2 percent in 2014.
How is food security measured
among U.S. Households?
 - The idea of estranged labor espoused in Marxist
theory is analogous to how low income individuals
-- who are often racial minorities -- frequently do
Theoretical not have ownership of the food services in their
Orientation communities (including supermarkets, farmers
markets, etc.)
- Capitalists (or business owners) often come into
communities and provide food services -- meaning
that those who are receiving the services aren't
part of the dialogue when it comes to price
negotiation and prevalence/stocking of food options
that could support a healthy diet.
- If the proletariat were able to own the means of
production, or enough capital, they would have the
power to shape food availability within their
neighborhoods.
 - However, as long as capitalists own the
means of production within outside

Theoretical communities, the exploitation of these

groups for profit includes leaving issues
Orientation like chronic hunger unsolved, and
promotes maintaining the 'food' gap.

- The alienation experienced by workers is

not limited to the product of their labor.
People who are food insecure, or who do
not have access to fresh, quality food
options at a price they can afford, are
indeed experiencing a type of alienation.
Conclusion
Our research on the impact of food deserts on racial/ethnic groups
and low income communities confirmed that minorities and low
income communities are at an increased risk of living within
food deserts and lack access to fresh foods.
The prevalence of food insecurity was also below the national
average of 12.7 percent for White, non-Hispanic households
(10.0 percent); households headed by non-Hispanics of other, or
multiple, races (10.3 percent); and households with incomes
above 185 percent of the poverty line (5.8 percent).
Conclusion (continued)
Rates of food insecurity were higher than the national average for the following groups:
All households with children (16.6 percent)
Households with children under age 6 (16.9 percent)
Households with children headed by a single woman (30.3 percent) or a single man (22.4 percent) and other
households with children (26.2 percent)
Women living alone (14.7 percent) and men living alone (14.0 percent)
Households headed by Black, non-Hispanics (21.5 percent), and Hispanics (19.1 percent)
Low-income households with incomes below 185 percent of the poverty threshold* (32.8 percent)
Across the metropolitan area classifications, the prevalence of food insecurity was highest for households located in
nonmetropolitan (rural) areas (15.4 percent), intermediate for those in principal .
** (The Federal poverty line was $24,036 for a family of four (two adults and two children) in 2015.)
Food Security Nationwide
The prevalence of food insecurity was higher (i.e., statistically significantly higher) than the
national average in 12 States (AL, AR, KY, LA, ME, MS, NC, OH, OK, OR, TN.
The prevalence of food insecurity was lower than the national average in 20 States (CA,
CO, DE, FL, HI, IA, IL, MA, MD, MN, ND, NH, NJ, PA, RI, SD, UT, VA, VT, and WI).
Regionally, the prevalence of food insecurity was higher in the South (13.3 percent) than in
the Northeast (11.9 percent) or the West (12.1 percent).
The prevalence of food insecurity in the Midwest (12.8 percent) was not statistically different
from the other three regions.
Food insecurity in NY (low or very low food security = 14.1 percent.
WEEKLY EXPENDITURES IN FOOD-SECURE
VS. FOOD-INSECURE HOUSEHOLDS
 Future Policy Recommendations Needed
to Address the issue of Food Deserts
Additional research should be conducted on the characteristics and factors causing and
influencing food deserts.
Federal, state, and local government should fund community and economic
development initiatives including incentives for retail food market development
(supermarkets, grocery stores, farmers markets).
Reform existing legislation on Federal food assistance and nutritional education
programs.
Coordination among multiple agencies and organizations including the USDA, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Administrator of Small Business
Administration.
Explore the relationship between food buying and healthy eating practices within food
deserts vs. food secure neighborhoods.
 THANK YOU :)

PINKI DASS