The Problem

Food insecurity is a much bigger social problem in the United States than many imagine. When the average person thinks of food insecurity, the first thing that may come to mind is people starving in low-income nations. While that is a social problem that needs to be addressed, it is crucial to understand that food insecurity is also an issue in high-income nations, namely the United States. While there are U.S. programs that provide food assistance to those who are food insecure, there may not be enough food from those sources to last families through the month. Food is one place where households can cut money from their budget. Unlike the rent, which might result in eviction, or the electric bill, which might result in the power being turned off, food expenditures are not a fixed cost. A family may be forced to choose between heat and food if their money is running low. The consequences of food insecurity include poor health outcomes such as increased morbidity and mortality as well as depression. For children, being food insecure can lead to poor performance in school. Food insecurity coexists in the United States with high rates of industrial food waste. The problem of food insecurity is one that we, as a wealthy nation, can no longer ignore. In addition to the pain and suffering food insecurity incurs on individuals, the social costs to public health and potential lost talent are too high.

The Research Evidence

Food insecurity is defined as a lack of access to enough food at all times for all members of the household to be healthy and active. The official measure of food insecurity in the United States is established through the Current Population Survey’s Food Security Supplement. Respondents are asked to respond to a variety of questions and statements, from “We worried whether our food would run out before we got money to buy more” to “In the last 12 months did you or other adults in your household ever not eat for a whole day because there wasn’t enough money for food?” In 2014, 14.0 percent of Americans were food insecure.