Food deserts are a critical issue in many parts of the world, particularly in the United States. While the term might conjure images of barren landscapes devoid of food, the reality is more nuanced and rooted in socio-economic factors. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food deserts primarily by proximity to grocery stores. However, this definition is increasingly seen as simplistic, overlooking the complex realities of food access for many communities. To truly understand food deserts, we need to delve deeper into the Food Desert Definition and its far-reaching implications.
Food deserts are generally understood as geographical areas, often in urban and rural settings, where residents have limited access to affordable and healthy food, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. This lack of access is typically due to the absence of large grocery stores or supermarkets within a convenient traveling distance.
According to the USDA’s Economic Research Service, millions of Americans live in these food deserts. Their 2009 report to Congress highlighted that around 2.3 million people in the US, representing 2.2% of households, reside more than a mile from a supermarket and lack vehicle ownership. In urban centers, while public transportation might seem like a solution, the economic decline of many cities has led to grocery store closures, making healthy food sources increasingly distant and requiring multiple modes of transport. Suburban and rural areas often face even greater challenges due to limited or nonexistent public transport, leaving residents miles away from supermarkets.
Beyond Proximity: The Realities of Food Deserts
While distance is a factor, a comprehensive food desert definition must incorporate socio-economic dimensions. Food deserts are disproportionately located in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. This is not merely coincidental; it reflects systemic inequalities and historical injustices.
Studies reveal stark disparities: wealthier districts often have three times as many supermarkets as poorer ones. Predominantly white neighborhoods can have four times the number of supermarkets compared to predominantly Black neighborhoods. Furthermore, grocery stores in African-American communities tend to be smaller and offer a less diverse selection of healthy foods. These disparities highlight that food desert definition extends beyond mere geographical location; it is deeply intertwined with economic and racial inequality.
The choices people make about food are heavily influenced by what is available and affordable. Food deserts are often characterized by a saturation of fast food outlets and convenience stores. These establishments typically offer cheap, processed foods high in unhealthy fats, sugar, and salt, while fresh produce and healthy options are scarce and expensive. Corner delis and liquor stores, common in food deserts, primarily stock unhealthy snack foods and processed items, further limiting access to nutritious food.
Flaws in Government Data and the Need for Accurate Food Desert Definition
The Food Empowerment Project (F.E.P.) points out critical flaws in how the US government collects data on food access, which can lead to an inaccurate food desert definition in practice. Their report, “Shining a Light on the Valley of Heart’s Delight (PDF),” demonstrates how relying solely on government data can mask the true extent of food deserts.
A significant issue lies in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), used by federal agencies to categorize businesses. The NAICS code lumps small corner stores together with large supermarkets like Safeway or Whole Foods Market. This means that a community lacking a supermarket but having a couple of corner stores selling liquor and limited food items might be statistically counted as having food retail outlets, despite the extremely limited and unhealthy food options available.
F.E.P.’s research also uncovered that even when convenience stores in food deserts stocked items like bananas or apples, they often sold them individually at inflated prices. Customers, especially those with limited English proficiency, might be unaware of the price or hesitant to ask, leading to potential overcharging.
Cultural appropriateness and dietary needs further complicate the food desert definition. Residents of food deserts may struggle to find foods that align with their cultural backgrounds or meet specific dietary restrictions, such as lactose intolerance or gluten allergies. Larger chain stores, which typically offer a wider variety of culturally diverse and specialized food products, are often absent in these areas.
Moreover, the cost of food is significantly higher in food deserts. Urban residents shopping at small neighborhood stores can pay anywhere from 3% to 37% more for the same groceries compared to suburban shoppers at supermarkets. This price disparity exacerbates the challenges faced by low-income communities in accessing healthy food.
Health Consequences of Living in a Food Desert
The limited access to healthy, affordable food in food deserts has severe and long-lasting health consequences. While unhealthy food choices might seem economically advantageous in the short term, the long-term effects of nutritional deprivation are devastating. This is a primary reason why ethnic minorities and low-income populations experience statistically higher rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other diet-related illnesses compared to the general population.
Obesity, often a consequence of poor diet, increases the risk of serious health conditions, including coronary heart disease and diabetes, which are leading causes of death in the US. The incidence of diabetes among US adults doubled between 1996 and 2007, with type 2 diabetes, frequently linked to obesity, accounting for the vast majority of cases. Alarmingly, type 2 diabetes, once rare in individuals under 40, has increased tenfold among adolescents in recent decades, mirroring rising obesity rates in this age group. While type 2 diabetes is increasing across all demographics, the most significant rises are seen in communities of color, particularly Native American youth and African-Americans and Latinos of all ages, who suffer disproportionately higher rates compared to whites. These are also the communities most likely to reside in food deserts, and research strongly links food insecurity with increased diabetes rates. Studies have shown that death rates from diabetes in Chicago food deserts are double those in areas with grocery store access.
Heart disease, another major health crisis, claims millions of lives annually in the US. A diet rich in unhealthy fats and LDL cholesterol, typical of the food available in food deserts, is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease. African-Americans, who are statistically more likely to live in food deserts, also experience higher rates of heart disease mortality compared to whites. Even children and adolescents living in food deserts face an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, both in childhood and adulthood, due to the higher prevalence of obesity in these communities.
Reconsidering the Term: Food Apartheid and Food Oppression
Recognizing the limitations of the traditional food desert definition, many advocates and organizations, like the Food Empowerment Project, argue for more accurate terms such as “food apartheid” and “food oppression.” These terms emphasize the systemic nature of food access inequalities, highlighting the role of racism and oppression in creating and maintaining these disparities. “Food apartheid” specifically acknowledges the racial segregation and discrimination embedded within food systems, while “food oppression” encompasses the broader power imbalances that restrict access to healthy food for marginalized communities. While “food desert” remains the most commonly used term, understanding these alternative perspectives is crucial for addressing the root causes of food inequality.
Addressing Food Deserts: Community and Policy Initiatives
Public awareness of food deserts is growing, fueled by the efforts of community activists, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign, aimed at combating childhood obesity, included a goal to eliminate food deserts by 2017 through government investments and tax breaks for supermarkets opening in underserved areas. Many cities are also implementing local initiatives to tackle food desert challenges.
Chicago: Faced with over 500,000 residents in food deserts, primarily African-American, and another 400,000 in neighborhoods dominated by fast food, Chicago activists are establishing food co-ops in underserved areas. These co-ops, like Fresh Family Foods, offer fresh, organic produce, whole grains, and healthy alternatives, alongside cooking and nutrition classes.
Los Angeles: In 2008, Los Angeles implemented a moratorium on new fast food outlets in a 32-square-mile area of South L.A., a region heavily impacted by food deserts and predominantly populated by Latino, African-American, and mixed-race communities. This was followed by financial incentives for grocery stores and healthy restaurants to open in these underserved areas, successfully bringing the first new supermarket to South L.A. in a decade.
New York City: With an estimated 750,000 residents in food deserts, New York City launched the Green Carts program in 2008. This initiative brings affordable fresh fruits and vegetables to underserved neighborhoods through mobile vendor carts, creating jobs and improving food access. Hundreds of Green Carts are now operating in food deserts throughout the city, with numbers continuing to grow.
Taking Action in Your Food Desert
If you live in a food desert, you can be a catalyst for change. Start by raising awareness within your community about what food deserts are and their impact. Initiate conversations about solutions, such as community gardens, collaborations with local retailers to stock healthy vegan options, and advocating for policy changes with local officials. Connect with organizations working on food justice to learn more and amplify your efforts.
Understanding the food desert definition is the first step towards addressing this complex issue. By recognizing the multifaceted nature of food deserts, encompassing not just distance but also socio-economic factors, systemic inequalities, and health consequences, we can work towards creating more equitable and healthier food systems for all communities.
References:
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