Food Insecurity - An Issue Involving More Than Just Food
- Alan Hua
- Feb 18, 2021
- 2 min read
Personal Care/Hygiene Items Available at a Food Pantry
Food insecurity is defined as the lack of consistent access to nutritionally adequate foods, (due to a lack of money or other resources), to support a healthy, active life. Although this definition specifically addresses “food” as the subject of the issue, household items such as diapers, baby formula, paper towels, and laundry detergent should not be left out of the picture.
According to The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Insecurity can be broken down into two classifications: Low Food Security and Very Low Food Security. Low Food Security is specifically defined by “reports of reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet. Little or no indication of reduced food intake,” while Very Low Food Security is defined by “reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.” The overarching idea around food insecurity is that these individuals and families have difficulty supporting themselves with basic household necessities and this could be due to a variety of reasons. A job layoff, medical bills, unexpected financial troubles, or even one’s geographic location can make paying the bills and supporting one’s basic needs a challenge. What is important to remember is that Food Insecurity exists to various extents and those suffering from Very Low Food Security may be in need of more than just food. That is why it is not uncommon to see items such as diapers, laundry detergent, toothpaste, or wipes at your local food pantry. In fact, they may even be the items in the shortest supply. This may be something to keep in mind the next time you organize a “food” drive or donate to your local food pantry.
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