Impact

We Can’t Talk About Nutrient Gaps Without Discussing Food Insecurity

8 min read
Learn about our partnership with Food Forward, and how we're working to fight food waste and hunger.
Learn about our partnership with Food Forward, and how we're working to fight food waste and hunger.

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Since the beginning of Ritual, we’ve been on a quest to bridge some of the common nutrient gaps found in people’s diets by reinventing the multivitamin. But if this is really our goal, we can’t ignore the fact that for many, the true gap is access to healthy food altogether.

More than 1 in 9 US households are food insecure—meaning that they lack consistent access to healthy, affordable food. For Black, Latinx, LGBTQ, disabled, and other marginalized families and individuals, these rates are doubled (and in some cases, even higher than that). That’s important to call out, because it highlights the fact that food insecurity and nutrition inequality are byproducts of other systemic issues that are often fueled by discrimination. (1,2)

In other words, food insecurity doesn’t exist in a vacuum: It’s not a problem that can just be “fixed” by placing grocery stores in underserved areas, or by educating about healthy food choices. Instead, we need to get to the root of the much deeper inequities that contribute to this nutrition gap in the first place—all in the name of working towards a system that actually benefits everyone.

With this all in mind, we’re proud to be partnering with Food Forward, a nonprofit organization working to bridge unnecessary food waste with food insecurity right in our backyard of Southern California—all by reallocating surplus produce to families in need. It’s a win-win cause we’re passionate about getting behind, and we’re inviting you to make an impact with us. But let’s start by learning about the realities of food insecurity together.

Understanding Food Insecurity

The first step to addressing food insecurity is acknowledging that it’s not an isolated problem, but the byproduct of other contributing factors that don’t just overlap, but feed into each other: things like affordability, proximity, underemployment, and even time. Any one of these things can lead to nutrition inequality—but they often exist together, as a web of inequities.

Proximity: What’s the closest option for healthy, affordable, and culturally-appropriate groceries?

Many of us are probably familiar with the term “food desert,” which the USDA defines as a low-income area where one-third of the population lives more than a mile away (or 10 miles for rural areas) from a supermarket, grocery store, or farmer’s market. Often, the closest affordable option may be a fast food or a convenience store—or, the foods and ingredients aren’t culturally diverse.

And there’s another important caveat. Some experts actually don’t love the term “food desert,” since it oversimplifies this lack of proximity as just a “food” issue. In reality, lack of transportation, affordable pricing, and other general infrastructure can all have an impact on access as well. Case in point: Many researchers on the ground have noted that rates of food access and household dietary choices don’t always change when supermarkets are introduced to “food desert” areas. In fact, some families choose to travel further to big box stores where they can stretch their dollar. Which brings us to our next point… (3,4,5)

Affordability: Even if groceries are nearby, are they affordable? Does the closest food source accept SNAP?

It’s important to remember that for many families and individuals, even just falling on hard times temporarily—a month out of work due to layoffs, or a steep medical bill, for example—can be a tipping point into food insecurity. And for many others, it’s a persistent battle.

When it comes down to it, both budget constraints and food pricing can have a huge impact on the choices we make—especially when those healthier options are more expensive, and the opportunity for price comparison is limited. Studies have shown that urban residents who buy their groceries at small, neighborhood stores can pay anywhere from 3 to 37 percent more than those purchasing the same groceries at supermarkets in suburban areas. That’s not even to mention the impact of general inflation: According to the USDA, an increase of 1 percent in the annual relative price of food (i.e., the ratio of food price to the price of all goods and services) was associated with a 0.6-percentage-point increase in the prevalence of food insecurity. (6,7)

For those who are eligible, the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offers a supplemental way to purchase groceries and bridge the gap of proximity: Convenience stores, for example, make up 45% of all eligible SNAP retailers, and must adhere to strict food stocking guidelines to qualify. (8)

Un(der)employment: Is it difficult to find a consistent paycheck? Does it take working several jobs to make ends meet?

Quick lesson: “Unemployment” specifically refers to being out of work, while “underemployment” describes working less hours or at a lower skill level than someone’s needs and/or qualifications. Often, those who are underemployed need to work several jobs to make ends meet.

It’s a necessary distinction, but it’s also worth noting that both unemployment and underemployment can have a major impact on someone’s time and ability to put a healthy meal on the table. And it’s also one of the key systemic factors that can help explain why BIPOC and LGBTQ individuals are disproportionately affected by food inequality: Black and Latinx workers have consistently experienced unemployment and underemployment at higher rates than white workers. And transgender people are twice as likely to experience unemployment (and poverty) as the rest of the population. (9,10)

The direct link between an inconsistent paycheck and the ability to afford consistent food might seem fairly obvious. But we can go a step further and quantify it: According to the USDA, an increase of just 1 percentage point in the unemployment rate during a given year is associated with an increase in food insecurity by .5 of a percentage point. Consider the major spike in unemployment as a result of the recent climate, and you might have an idea of how much food insecurity will be an issue for so many individuals and families this year. Crazier still: As of May, even though white unemployment started to drop (to 12.4%), Black unemployment actually rose to 16.8%, widening the gap. (7,11)

Discrimination: Does someone face multiple obstacles—employment, housing, and assistance programs, for example—due to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or disability?

In a study of 669 caregivers (95% female) from 2015 to 2017, researchers at Drexel University found that those who experienced discrimination at school, work, applying for housing, bank loans, SNAP and other assistance programs, or by police were significantly more likely to experience household food insecurity. For example, women who reported discrimination at school were 60% more likely to be food insecure, and those who reported discrimination at work were 77% more likely to be food insecure. (12)

This is just one snapshot that illustrates the way that food insecurity is intertwined with so many other deeply systemic problems that put certain populations at an inherent (and grossly unfair) disadvantage—and that food security can’t be fully achieved until those inequities are finally addressed and resolved.

Time: Is there enough time in the day to prepare a healthful meal? Does working unpredictable hours or multiple jobs stand in the way of food choices?

Time is a commodity, and for many of us, a luxury: For those working multiple part-time jobs, or overtime hours, getting food on the table often means relying on convenient (and affordable) options. This is one of the many difficult choices those who experience underemployment or any other aggravating factors of food insecurity have to make—and it really just scratches the surface of the toll of time poverty, particularly for working parents who juggle both long hours and childcare. (13)

Nutrition inequality isn’t just about food insecurity.

The truth is that while this lack of access to healthy, affordable food is clearly a huge gap that needs to be addressed from all sides, it’s also just one way an inequitable food system manifests itself. If we were to collectively pursue food sovereignty—a concept that visualizes a world without food insecurity and nutrition inequality—then we also need to reassess everything that goes into production, processing, distribution, retail, and waste. This is the fabric of our economy, our communities, and our daily lives—so needless to say, there’s a lot of work to do. But that starts with acknowledging that these inequities exist in the first place, and better understanding how we might go about dismantling them.

Closing the Nutrition Gap: Our Partnership with Food Forward

While there are countless organizations that are working to fight nutrition inequality from all sides, one of the reasons why we’re proud to team up with Food Forward is the organization’s commitment to addressing both food waste and food insecurity in one go. That’s not to mention that Food Forward is based in our hometown of Los Angeles, which happens to be home to the largest population of food insecure individuals and families in the US. In other words, we’re excited to start making an impact right here in our backyard.

Up to 40% of food is wasted in the US—a statistic that’s tragically at odds with the prevalence of food insecurity in our communities. By rescuing fresh produce from farmers markets, public orchards and even backyard fruit trees, Food Forward is able to help bridge the gap between waste and hunger, reallocating this surplus food to hunger relief agencies across 8 counties in Southern California. (14)

Together, we can continue working towards a future where an equitable food system is possible for all.

References:

  1. Food Security and Nutrition Assistance. (n.d.). Retrieved June 17, 2020, from the USDA
  2. Serving with Pride: LGBTQ Americans are hungrier than nearly any other demographic. (2019, July 11). Retrieved from Oregon Food Bank
  3. Dubowitz, T. (2015, November 10). PHRESH Project: Opening Supermarket in Food Desert Changes Diet and Neighborhood Perceptions, but Changes Are Unrelated to Use of Market. Retrieved from RAND Corporation
  4. Cummins, S., Flint, E., & Matthews, S. A. (2014). New Neighborhood Grocery Store Increased Awareness Of Food Access But Did Not Alter Dietary Habits Or Obesity. Health Affairs, 33(2), 283-291. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2013.0512
  5. Elbel, B., Moran, A., Dixon, L. B., Kiszko, K., Cantor, J., Abrams, C., & Mijanovich, T. (2015). Assessment of a government-subsidized supermarket in a high-need area on household food availability and children’s dietary intakes. Public Health Nutrition, 18(15), 2881-2890. doi:10.1017/s1368980015000282
  6. Food Deserts*. (n.d.). Retrieved from the Food Empowerment Project
  7. Nord, M., Coleman-Jensen, A., & Gregory, C. (2014, June). Prevalence of U.S. Food Insecurity Is Related to Changes in Unemployment, Inflation, and the Price of Food. Retrieved from USDA
  8. Eligibility Requirements for SNAP Retailers: Balancing Access, Nutrition, and Integrity. (n.d.). Retrieved from USDA
  9. Transgender Workers at Greater Risk for Unemployment and Poverty. (2013, September 06). Retrieved from the National LGBTQ Task Force
  10. Nunn, R., Parsons, J., & Shambaugh, J. (2019, August 27). Race and underemployment in the US labor market. Retrieved from Brookings
  11. Jones, C. (2020, June 05). Black unemployment 2020: African Americans bear brunt of economic crisis sparked by the coronavirus. Retrieved from USA Today
  12. Ingeno, L. (2018, December 06). Report finds discrimination driving disparities in food insecurity. Retrieved from Phys.org
  13. Tacoli C. (2017). Food (In)Security in Rapidly Urbanising, Low-Income Contexts. International journal of environmental research and public health, 14(12), 1554. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14121554
  14. Food Waste FAQs. (n.d.). Retrieved from USDA

Meet Our Expert

Science Thumb — Arianne

Arianne Vance, MPH, Principal Scientist

Arianne Vance is a Principal Scientist at Ritual. She earned her MPH in Epidemiology from UCLA. Her graduate research focused on maternal and child health, with an emphasis on breastfeeding and maternal mental health. She is passionate about sharing her love of science by presenting cutting-edge research in an accessible and engaging way.

Science Thumb — Arianne

Arianne Vance, MPH, Principal Scientist

Arianne Vance is a Principal Scientist at Ritual. She earned her MPH in Epidemiology from UCLA. Her graduate research focused on maternal and child health, with an emphasis on breastfeeding and maternal mental health. She is passionate about sharing her love of science by presenting cutting-edge research in an accessible and engaging way.

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This article was written by our content specialist.

vhoff

Victoria Hoff, Writer

Victoria Hoff is an accomplished writer, journalist, and former wellness editor who has covered a wide variety of health, nutrition, and wellness topics during her tenure. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts from New York University, and after writing for Vogue, Elle, Byrdie, The/Thirty, and more, channeled her editorial skills into a marketing career.

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vhoff

Victoria Hoff, Writer

Victoria Hoff is an accomplished writer, journalist, and former wellness editor who has covered a wide variety of health, nutrition, and wellness topics during her tenure. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts from New York University, and after writing for Vogue, Elle, Byrdie, The/Thirty, and more, channeled her editorial skills into a marketing career.

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