Tag: Healthy food access

According to the World Health Organization, nearly half of deaths among children under 5 years of age are linked to undernutrition, with the vast majority occurring in low- and middle-income countries. This stark statistic is just one indicator of how social class affects nutrition, showcasing profound inequalities in dietary health worldwide.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, over 3 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet, leading to increased food insecurity and nutritional deficiencies. Improving access to healthy food is a complex but critical challenge that requires a multi-faceted approach addressing social, economic, and environmental factors.

According to the USDA, a food desert is a low-income area where a significant portion of residents live far from a supermarket. This critical lack of access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food defines what are considered food deserts, a major challenge with serious public health consequences.

According to the USDA, nearly 19 million people in the U.S. live in low-income, low-access areas, a phenomenon commonly known as a food desert. This term describes a community where residents face significant barriers to acquiring affordable and healthy food, creating systemic challenges related to nutrition and health.

Founded in 1992, The Food Trust's mission is centered on ensuring access to affordable, nutritious food and providing the knowledge for healthy choices. The organization works to improve food systems in communities across the U.S. through increased access, nutrition education, and policy advocacy.

According to a Feeding America study, clients using food pantries desire healthier options, including produce, lean protein, and dairy. The Healthy Pantry Initiative is a program designed to meet this demand by transforming the charitable food system to increase access to and promotion of healthy foods and beverages.

Millions of lower-income families in urban, small town, and rural areas experience inequitable access to healthy food, living in communities commonly known as "food deserts". Tackling this systemic issue requires multifaceted, community-led strategies that prioritize equitable food distribution and local empowerment.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity are leading global health risks. In a world with increasing access to processed foods and rapid urbanization, people are consuming more foods high in energy, fats, and sugar, while often not eating enough nutrient-rich options. The path to a nutritious diet is often fraught with obstacles, but recognizing and understanding these barriers is the first step toward overcoming them.

According to the USDA, nearly 19 million people in the U.S. live in low-income and low-access areas, a phenomenon commonly known as a food desert. However, many activists and academics now advocate for using "food apartheid" as another name for a food desert, arguing that the older term fails to capture the systemic racism and socioeconomic factors at play.

According to a September 2024 USDA report, roughly one in seven U.S. households struggled with food insecurity in 2023, representing millions of people without consistent access to adequate nutrition. This widespread issue is driven by factors including poverty, location, and systemic barriers that shape what percentage of Americans don't have access to healthy food.