Tag: Public policy

According to the USDA, nearly 19 million people in the United States live in low-income, low-access areas, often defined as a food desert. These geographic areas, both urban and rural, are characterized by limited or non-existent access to healthy and affordable food options, with profound consequences for residents.

According to a 2023 report, 2.3 billion people were moderately or severely food insecure, lacking regular access to adequate nutrition. This widespread issue, known as food insecurity, goes far beyond simple hunger and has complex effects on individuals and communities worldwide.

Health Canada’s 2019 revision of the Food Guide, the most significant update since its 1942 inception, adopted a digital-first approach to reach a broader, more diverse demographic. This intentional shift redefines the guide's reach, moving away from a one-size-fits-all brochure to an adaptable and inclusive online resource for people across the country.

According to the World Food Programme, millions suffer from hunger despite sufficient global food production, highlighting that the primary issue is not scarcity but access. The challenge of how we can make healthy food available to everyone requires a multifaceted approach that tackles systemic issues in production, distribution, and affordability.

According to a 2025 CDC report, over half of the American diet consists of ultra-processed foods, a figure substantially higher than in many European nations where consumption has been declining. This striking dietary difference fuels ongoing debate about the quality of American food compared to the rest of the world. Understanding the core reasons behind this disparity reveals a complex interplay of regulations, market pressures, and societal factors.

According to a World Bank update from September 2025, over 1.4 million people face catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity, with food price inflation still significantly affecting many low- and middle-income countries. These figures challenge the common misconception that hunger is a personal failure, compelling us to ask: is food insecurity a systemic issue?

According to the USDA, nearly 19 million people in the United States live in low-income and low-access areas, often defined as food deserts. A food desert is a complex issue driven by a combination of geographic, economic, and social factors that restrict access to healthy, affordable food options. Understanding these qualifiers is the first step toward developing effective solutions for community food insecurity.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity are leading global risks to health, driving the rise of non-communicable diseases. To combat this, national health authorities develop dietary guidelines, which serve to translate scientific evidence into practical, population-level recommendations for healthy eating patterns.

According to the Food Fortification Initiative, over 80 countries have legislated mandatory folic acid fortification for at least one staple grain to combat micronutrient deficiencies and reduce neural tube defects. This public health intervention has proven highly effective in regions that implement it consistently.

According to UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Group data from 2023, approximately 148 million children under five are stunted globally, underscoring the widespread challenge of malnutrition. Effective preventive and control measures of malnutrition are essential to address this public health crisis and improve overall well-being across all age groups.