Food Poverty (Human Nutrition 11-25-2012)

  Food poverty is a problem that exists in every country around the globe. In the U.S. alone it is said that there are “11.9 million households” or “12 percent” of households that consistently experience hunger in their daily lives (Klein 1). In America, “people go without nourishing meals not because there is no food nearby to purchase, but because they lack sufficient money to pay for both the food they need and other necessities, such as clothing, housing, medicines, and utilities” (Sizer 575). According to Cason (1999), “living below the poverty line puts tremendous strains on a household budget, adversely affecting the ability to purchase a nutritionally adequate diet” (3). Food poverty is one of the major problems facing our global society and eradicating it is a major concern for the future of our planet.

            In the U.S. during the 1960’s, according to Cason, “food security became a high-priority issue at all levels of government” (4). In the past few decades many programs were instituted to combat the growing epidemic of hunger in our society, examples of which are the “Food Stamp Program” and the “Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children” or WIC (4). Despite the institution of these programs though, often times the receivers of supplemental benefits may use these funds to “pay utility bills or other necessities” (Klein 2). Another problem concerning the Federal program coverage, according to Klein, is that not all “communities sponsor the range of Federal Food assistance” and these programs are only “available in a limited number of places” (12). In our recent economic climate, “state and local governments and private charities, enlisted to make up for federal cutbacks and budget restraints, are increasingly unable to shoulder the burden”, and have had to make “severe cuts” in their programs (Cason 6). The only solution to this problem is to learn how to better allocate already limited funds and resources and minimize their waste.

            Food poverty has another detrimental effect upon our society. A lack of an adequate nutritious diet during the formative years of the individual can lead to “stunting and wasting”, which limits the “mental development” of the individual, and “decisively handicapping the affected millions that do not die” (Brundtland 12). According to Brundtland (2000), these survivors of malnutrition have “special difficulties in terms of their cognitive and physical development” resulting in a more limited adulthood where the individual is “less productive”, and “earn less” (12). This situation can result in a “drain on human resources” in terms of medical costs that burden the state, and result in less productive citizens (12). This situation can be detrimental to an individual’s community as well as to the overall society when an inadequate diet results in diminished functioning, behavior problems, and physical handicaps that cause the individual to become a drain on society, rather than a healthy person who can enjoy full participation in their society. The only means to eradicate this problem is to ensure that all of our citizens have an equal access to the nutrient-dense foods that allow for healthy growth and functioning throughout the life cycle of the individual.

            Food poverty can have several detrimental effects, not only to the individual but also to the individual’s society. When people do not receive an adequate, nutrient-dense diet in their growing years, development becomes retarded and one’s potential is not the same as if the individual had received the proper nutrition during the formative years. Children who are unable to receive an adequate diet may not be able to concentrate in school, and may develop behavioral problems. Individuals who are unable to gain access to a nutrient-dense diet may develop health problems throughout their life cycle for which they may need medical assistance provided by the state, further draining available resources. When individuals are unable to get their dietary needs met, their functioning in their society is reduced, and instead of being able to have a healthy and full function and participation in their society, they instead make the social environment weaker. It is only addressing the problem of food poverty that we can be more healthy as a society as a whole, as the health of the individual also effects the health of our society as well.

Works Cited:

Brundtland, G.H. (2000). “Nutrition and Infection: Malnutrition and Mortality in Public Health”. Nutrition Reviews. pp. S1-S4.  

Cason, K.L. (1999) “Hunger and Food Insecurity”. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences. 91.1. 49-55.

Klein, B.W. (1998). “Could There Be Hunger in America?” Nutrition Insights. Insight 8,

Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2011). Nutrition Concepts and Controversies. 12^th ed. Cengage Learning.