Let’s Make a Meal: The Reality of Living in Food Deserts, Food Swamps, and Food Apartheids
Written by: Latasha Jeter, MPH
Food is one of the basic necessities of life. The nutrients in food help your body grow, develop, and repair. It also gives us the energy to complete our daily tasks. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has declared March as National Nutrition month. Established in 1973, this annual campaign teaches people about the importance of healthy food and how to develop healthy food habits.
While this month focuses on the importance of eating healthy, it is important to also inform others about the difficulties many people face in accessing healthy foods.
The Hunger Problem
Before we dive into the different food geographies, let’s talk about the hunger problem our country is facing. Hunger is a public health issue that is often overlooked. However, the Covid-19 pandemic shed light on the hunger problem within communities all over the country. In a report published by USDA’s Economic Research Service, 44 million people in the United States face hunger. Hunger can increase the risk of developing chronic diseases. Hunger also plays a role in how we think and learn. Without access to nutritious food, you are harming your body.
Food Deserts
According to the USDA, food deserts are neighborhoods and communities that have limited access to affordable and nutritious foods. Studies have shown that Black and Spanish families are more likely to live in areas with restricted food access. Living in food deserts can also make it difficult for people to find culturally appropriate foods and dietary restrictive foods such as gluten free or lactose-free food items. Household income and reliable transportation can also play a role in accessing healthy food options. People who live in food deserts are also likely to live in a food swamp.
Food Swamps
A food swamp is an area in which the foodscape is made up of fast-food restaurants, convenience, and liquor stores. These establishments help fill the food gap created by the lack of grocery stores in the area. People living in these areas are essentially “swamped” with unhealthy food options. Studies have shown that low-income and racial-ethnic minorities are more likely than to live near unhealthy food establishments. Food swamps continually contribute to the health disparities many communities of color face.
Food Apartheids
As more research is done on food insecurity, more food justice advocates are encouraging others to use the term “food apartheid” rather than food deserts or swaps. A food apartheid is “a system of segregation that divides those with access to an abundance of nutritious food and those who have been denied that access due to systemic injustice.” 1 The term was created by Karen Washington, a food advocate and farmer from the Bronx. It goes beyond not having enough grocery stores. Food apartheids focus on the racial and economic inequalities contributing to food access issues.
Living in food geographies with limited access to healthy foods can negatively affect health outcomes.While fast-food and items from convenience stores may be economically cheaper in the short-term, the consequences can have negative health consequences in the long-term such as obesity, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease. Imagine a world where it's easy for everyone to prepare meals for their families.
Video by: Jalysa Ellis ~ Voiceover by: Ashlyn Thomas
Future Outlook
Simply building grocery stores will not increase food access. There is a lot of work to do to dismantle the policies and systems in place that are preventing communities of color from accessing food. One solution is to increase the number of jobs with livable wages. Building a grocery store will not make a difference if the consumers are unable to buy their groceries. As a social impact organization, The Public Health Record will continue to use our platform to research and provide updates on food policy locally and nationwide.
