Food Security – What It Is and Why It Matters MaKell Corry and Palak Gupta
Introduction When a household is food secure, it means food is consistently available, accessible, and used. However, in 2022, 13.5% of U.S. households (more than 44 million people) were food insecure at some point during the year (Rabbitt et al., 2023). Those who are food insecure cannot access sufficient food to meet their needs.
“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.”
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 2006 Insufficient access to safe and nutritious foods can severely impact physical, mental, and social well-being. Without proper nutrition, focus levels, energy, and immune system support can decline, leading to long-term health challenges. Food insecurity increases the likelihood of malnutrition, chronic conditions, and social stigma, affecting individuals' overall quality of life (Meisenheimer, 2016; Feeding America, 2024). Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of food insecurity. In 2022, 17.3% of households with children were food insecure (Rabbit et al., 2023). This is especially concerning as quality nutrition is crucial for brain development and learning during infancy and early childhood (Meisenheimer, 2016). The impact of food insecurity on children can be both long-term and temporary, influenced by broader legal, political, economic, and social factors (FAO, 2006). There are four main dimensions that make up food security (also known as pillars of food security): availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability. Each dimension must be intact to achieve consistent dietary variety to individuals and communities. Each pillar has a unique definition and factors that affect the pillars’ strength.
Pillars of Food Security 1. Food Availability Food availability means a food supply consistently available for households to purchase and obtain. Food availability is determined by production rates, stock levels, and net trade (Global Food Security Cluster, 2023). 1