Food Insecurity in the US: Feeding the Richest Country

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Hunger, or food insecurity, in the U.S. has changed significantly from how it appeared and was perceived in the 20th century. By the year 2012, at least 48 million Americans were experiencing food insecurity, an increase of 57 percent since the last years of the 1990s (McMillan). Following the increase in hungry households, food, soup pantries, and other private food programs grew into the thousands. Many of the people that are found in such situations are employed, married, or in families where parents or other family members may be working. Despite this, it is common to find people with acceptable employment and housing waiting for food stamps or services by other food programs. Outside the already detrimental issue of lacking food, such conditions caused by food insecurity result in the purchase of processed and unhealthy foods. This is directly related to a number of health issues in both adults and children. Despite having less access to food, obesity and overweightness can often be observed in people suffering from food insecurity. Often, obesity and the lack of access to nutritious food are linked, as are many health issues related to the inadequate access to healthy foods that are experienced so frequently in these families. Though it can be assumed that such a crisis in the unavailability of food may be caused by shortages, infrastructural challenges, or unstable markets, these factors are only a portion of the issue. The primary causes for food insecurity in the U.S. include poverty, employment instability, and inadequate support from the government.

Poverty is the central cause of food insecurity in the U.S., though it also depends on a number of other factors. The U.S. has an incredibly bountiful agricultural and food production market, with the ability to produce enough grains, poultry, red meat, and dairy for every individual. However, the actual availability of these products depends on market demand, which is a reflection of poverty levels to some extent. Some families or individuals may not be able to afford to buy these products, which lowers demands and causes wastage in the agricultural and food sector. As such, the market is not experiencing any serious instability, and the public is not experiencing a shortage, but the financial state of certain families does not allow them to purchase appropriate or any amounts of food products. Up to 40 percent of families that are living below the federally mandated poverty rate of $23,850 have reported hunger or food insecurity (Riches, 2018). The risk posed to single parents and households with children that currently live below the poverty line. Not only does poverty lead to general food insecurity, but it directly affects the health of adults and children. Children are particularly vulnerable, and children within impoverished households with low access to food may become sick or even developmentally impaired. It is also the case that such households live in what is known as food desserts, which are locations that do not have nearby supermarkets, grocery stores, farmers markets, or other sources for nutritious food. This makes cars or public transport the only available option in order to access food for individuals and families living in such locations. This creates a number of issues, such as carrying heavy produce, constraints of work, child care, home maintenance, or complications caused by potential health issues. Poverty does not simply mean that families cannot afford food as many may think. Poverty reflects the lack of resources that many families experience when trying to access food that is nutritious and affordable.

Unemployment, job insecurity, or other challenges in the forms of salaries or financial wellbeing are closely connected to poverty, and as such, to food insecurity. Though there have been noticeable lows and decreases in unemployment in years such as 2019, a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic has had massive consequences for the economy, and by extension, on the job security of many Americans. Over the first two months of the pandemic, at least forty million U.S. residents had become unemployed, to which the Federal Government responded by offering unemployment insurance benefits in supplements. The noticeable effects of such massive unemployment on food insecurity have only been magnified by the pandemic but reflect a trend that has long existed. These unemployment insurance supplements had decreased food insecurity in a number of families, while those that continued working and did not receive benefits continued to experience food insecurity (Raifman et al., 2021). Hunger is not simply a matter of people refusing to work in order to receive financial support by other means, as many who are employed full-time continue to lack access to nutritious foods. Additionally, the current markets are experiencing a substantial labor shortage. Many are unable to refuse their benefits in exchange for unstable and low-paying work that is currently offered all over the U.S. as many companies have not increased their offered salaries. Many officials believe that the reliance on unemployment benefits gives people the incentive to refuse work despite the re-opened business and industries. However, the issue is much more complex and pertains not only to the health concerns due to the pandemic that many are experiencing but more primary challenges posed by job insecurities. Much unemployment depends on work that is not stable, extensively time-consuming, and not financially beneficial. When mixed with issues posed by general life responsibilities such as child care, home maintenance, and lack of basic necessities such as food, clothes, and other components that are commonly experienced by families in poverty, low-paying jobs seem too risky. As such, the current employment opportunities available in the market are directly opposed to the current hardships faced by those that are living in poverty, including food insecurity.

In addition to job instability and growing poverty, many individuals or families are unable to receive assistance from private or federal agencies in regards to their experienced food insecurity. Programs such as the unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic have been cut short throughout many states, which resulted in many families experiencing further lack of access to food. Additionally, for many new policies concerning food, the qualification has become further exclusive and discriminatory. The expected surge in food insecurity due to the pandemic was high, but the current food insecurity has not yet dropped to below what it was prior to the pandemic. At least 19.3 million adults have reported not getting enough food in the middle of 2021 in comparison to the 8.5 million that reported a lack of food in 2019 (Saxena, 2021). As such, the infrastructural and federal support of financial benefits were essential in fighting food insecurity, but with their retraction, it is likely that the issue of hunger will not subside to previous lows in a way that is adequate. Additionally, the cuts made to unemployment and other financial benefits are likely to begin a strain on food banks and food stamp programs in the near future. This will also cause a shortage for those that are unable to find facilities that can offer support in terms of food. Lacking resources and programs provided by the government is another factor in food insecurity that is especially prevalent in times in which such support is becoming more and more limited. This issue is doubled by policies that tighten the access to such programs by limiting individuals that can qualify for them. These can include the calculations of the total assets of a family, prices of owned cars that are not used for work, and other factors. Essentially, having an operable car or family assets that exceed the price posed by the policies can disqualify families from receiving much-needed benefits of food.

Food insecurity is a complex issue that spans other challenges that continue to be incredibly prevalent in the United States. Poverty, unemployment, and the insufficient support offered by the government are issues that are worsened and directly affecting food insecurity, especially in a time of detrimental crises. The resolution of any of the issues is directly linked to elevating the hardships of food insecurity. As such, it is essential to address these issues in a way that is connected and cohesive. Support for food banks and programs, better employment, and infrastructural assistance can begin opening ways to improve the current state of households in poverty.