What is food insecurity?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a lack of access to adequate food that results in a disrupted eating pattern and a reduced quality of diet because of a lack of money or resources which makes it difficult to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. The causes of food insecurity are complex but commonly identified causes are poverty, unemployment, and low income. These financial conditions, possibly combined with systemic racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, and xenophobia can cause individuals and families to become food insecure.
In contrast, food security is when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life.
What are food deserts and food swamps?
Food insecurity can also be caused or exacerbated by living in a food desert or a food swamp. A food desert is an area that has limited access to affordable and nutritious food and a food swamp is an area that is over-saturated with high-calorie fast food. Additionally, food deserts and swamps can exist simultaneously in the same place, which commonly occurs in areas that are lower-income and populated by ethnic minorities.
Pictured below are two areas in San Diego. The zip code 92105 (City Heights) can be identified as a food desert/swamp while the zip code 92122 (University City) can be identified as a food oasis, or an area with reliable access to affordable and nutritious food. Although 92105 has a higher population within a smaller space (i.e. is more densely populated) it has fewer grocery stores with fresh produce. Furthermore, this area has six times as many liquor stores, which carry processed foods like chips, candy, and soda in addition to alcoholic beverages. This zip code can also be classified as a food swamp as there is a higher number of fast-food establishments which have been purposefully located in an area in which residents desire higher quantities of food for lower prices.
Factors that can influence an area’s status as a food desert beyond the types and numbers of food sources include there area’s walkability or resident’s access to reliable transportation, the stores having food and ingredients that meet the preferences of the residents, and the prices being within the financial means of residents to feed themselves and their families.
What is food justice?
Food justice can have very different and personal meanings to food advocates. The definition established by the Congressional Hunger Center is: “Food justice seeks to ensure that the benefits and risks of where, what, and how food is grown, produced, transported, distributed, accessed and eaten are shared fairly. Food justice represents a transformation of the current food system, including but not limited to eliminating disparities and inequities.”
Where can I learn more about food justice?
View our growing collection of resources below!
Sources
"USDA ERS - Definitions Of Food Security". Ers.Usda.Gov, 2021, https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/definitions-of-food-security.aspx.
Hungercenter.Org, 2022, https://www.hungercenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Food-Justice-Defs-compilation.pdf.
"From Food Deserts To Food Oases: Addressing Access To Healthy Food". Food Revolution Network, 2020, https://foodrevolution.org/blog/food-deserts-food-oasis-healthy-food-access/.