Food Insecurity Definition

There are currently 55 million Hispanic people living in the United States today, comprising 17% of the nation’s total population(Krogstad & Lopez, 2015). According to estimates, this population will continue to grow in number and influence to an estimated 119 million by 2060 (Krogstad, 2014). A report by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) found that in 2013, 23.5% of Hispanic households lived under the poverty line, and that 23.7% of households were food insecure at some point in this year (NCLR, 2013). “Food insecurity” is defined as, “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways” (Anderson, 1990, p. 1559). Food insecurity
This disproportionately affects the people of color who populate these areas, and is a direct result of not only socio-cultural factors but of federal policy, as well. The author points to one example of “food oppression” that can be seen in Oakland, California (Freeman, 2007). This area has one grocery store and thirty-six liquor and convenience stores to service the 30,000 Latinos and African Americans that reside there (Freeman, 2007). The cost of food items in these convenience stores are twice the cost at a regular grocery stores, and fast food restaurants are prevalent (Freeman, 2007). This issue is not unique to the area, but can be generalized to other urban areas across the United States. “Food oppression” contributes to food related disease and deaths that are prevalent among these racial groups. The Center for Disease Control estimates that Hispanic adults are 1.2 times more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic whites, and that they are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes (Blackwell, Lucas, & Clarke,
Among them, 31% of Hispanic women and 14% of Hispanic men have used this program to supplement their income and food security for their household (Morin, 2013). However, according to Delgado (2015), undocumented Hispanic immigrants are not eligible for SNAP benefits, and those with “mixed-status” or for example, immigrant parents with a U.S. citizen child, are eligible for benefits for their child only, but may not participate due to confusion or concerns about participating in the program. In 2013, 8.8% of “mixed-status” families utilized SNAP, and one-quarter of undocumented immigrants who participated in the Feeding America Program cited concerns about ineligibility and difficulty navigating the complex eligibility restrictions as reasons for not applying for the program (Delgado, 2015). Delgado (2015) notes that there are multiple observed benefits to the well being of low-income families participating in SNAP, as the program has reduced food insecurity by 31%, and increased the ability for families to purchase foods that are high in nutritional value by 90%. This program is vital to decreasing food insecurity, especially among this vulnerable population, but requires some policy tweaking to ensure that the greatest benefits will be available to those who need it