food deserts. what is a food desert? definition: low-income communities without ready access to...
TRANSCRIPT
What is a Food Desert?
• Definition: Low-income communities without ready access to healthy and affordable food
– Effects 23.5 million Americans (including 6.5 million children)• Occurs both in urban and rural areas
– Linked with poor diet, higher levels of obesity and other diet-related diseases (ex. diabetes)
» People eat what’s convenient and affordable, which often means fast food
Consequences of Food Deserts
• Linked with poor diet, higher levels of obesity and other diet-related diseases (ex. diabetes)
• People eat what’s convenient and affordable, which often means fast food
• Data reports from the FRAC suggest that there are: • A lack of grocery stores• A high cost associated with “good” food• An easy availability of fast food
• Combine to create an ideal environment for poor nutrition in low-income areas.
no car and no supermarket store within a mile
June 2009
2.3 million people do not have access to a car and live more than a mile from a supermarket (5 miles in rural areas)
Food Atlas Data
• http://maps.ers.usda.gov/FoodAtlas/
Low income and greater than one mile to a grocery store.
NYC Food Deserts• 2008 study conducted by the New York City Department of
City Planning– 3 million New Yorkers live in “high-need neighborhoods” (not enough
supermarkets and too many health problems)– Called for a 20% increase in new grocery stores
• Food bought at discount stores & pharmacies where there’s no fresh produce
» “In our study, a significant percentage of [people in low-income neighborhoods] reported that in the day before our survey, they had not eaten fresh fruit or vegetables. Not one. That really is a health crisis in the city”
» http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/supermarket/index.shtml
Wal-Mart Plan• Wal-Mart:
– Plans to build or expand 275-300 stores (by 2016) in underserved areas, promising access to healthy fresh food.
– The retailer is promising to reformulate “everyday packaged food items” to reduce sodium by 25% and added sugars by 10%.
– All trans-fats in products sold at Wal-Mart will be removed from products by 2015 (this is potentially huge because it will affect many national brands as well)
– Will introduce a new front of pack nutrition label in Q2 2012 to help consumers make healthier choices
Partnership for a Healthier America
• Note the picture from a Walgreens Pharmacy below. • Select Walgreens locations are beginning to carry
more amounts of fresh produce to meet community needs and provide nutritional meals.
NYC Food deserts
• Lack of supermarkets and high rates of diabetes are correlated and concentrated in minority and poor neighborhoods
NYC Food deserts (contd.)
• Lack of supermarkets and high rates of diabetes are correlated and concentrated in minority and poor neighborhoods
Food Desert locator
• The Food Desert Locator is project of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service– Spatial overview of low-income neighborhoods with
high concentrations of people who are far away from a grocery store• Can map food deserts and view census tract-level statistics on
population groups with low access to healthy food
» Pairs nicely with the Food Environment Atlas
Case Study: Chicago
• 2009, South Side of Chicago
Food Desert Analysis
• What are the environmental, political, social, cultural and economic effects of food deserts?
• What are the causes and consequences of food deserts in low-income areas?
Ex. Political, Economic
• First Lady is addressing the issue as part of her “Let’s Move!” Initiative– Latest news (July 20, 2011)
– Expanding access to fresh food
– Creating jobs» SUPERVALU(6,0
00), Walgreens, Walmart (40,000)
Ex. Political, ECONOMIC
• Rahm Emanuel– Has made eradicating
food deserts a major priority as mayor of Chicago• Held the city’s 1st “Food
Desert Summit” last month (June 13, 2011)
Questions for debate
• How much does where you live determine what and how you eat?
• What role do you think inequality (race, gender, social class, age, etc.) plays?
• Would developing more grocery stores in “food deserts” be a key to healthier eating in those communities?
• What are the positive and negative effects of encouraging large retailers like Walmart to expand their reach in food deserts?
– What would you propose to get people in low-income neighborhoods to eat healthier?