Food Insecurity is Putting at Risk the Future of America

Approval of the Universal School Meals Program Act 2021 can aid vulnerable populations

Nabila Riaz¹, Rosa E. Lozano²,Moraima Castro-Faix³

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3651-310X
²Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, 219 Hodson Hall, 1980 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, Minnesota 55108 USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7283-9249
³Graduate School of Education, Rutgers University, 10 Seminary Pl, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 USA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0668-8793

Summary

Food insecurity has increased during the pandemic due to loss of income, school closures, and distancing orders that lead to businesses’ temporary or permanent closure. At-risk communities felt the economic consequences of the pandemic most. As a consequence of school closures, children dependent on the school meal programs to access a proper meal were affected. Food banks organized food drives or schools offered ready-to-go meals to alleviate hunger during the pandemic. However, these are short-term solutions to a long-overdue problem.

We recommend that Congress should implement the Universal School Meals Program Act 2021 (15) as a long-term solution to this problem. Additionally, tax benefits can be offered to organizations that aid food security. Our proposal would provide a fundamental base for additional long-term actions to minimize food insecurity among children.

Children’s food insecurity during COVID-19

In the United States (U.S.), over 11.5% Americans are considered food insecure, out of which 15.2% are children (6,7,8). In contrast with before the pandemic, just 11% of U.S. households with children were considered food insecure (11,13).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as the consistent lack of financial resources to ensure access to food that can support an active, healthy life (16). The USDA classifies food security into four levels: (high, marginal, low, and very low). These four levels of food security describe the ranges of household experiences in having access to enough food for their families. High food security and marginal food security make the food secure category and the households with low and very low security make the food insecure category (16). Food insecurity is not hunger, but hunger is considered a symptom of food insecurity.

Food insecurity is strongly correlated with poverty, and there is recent evidence that there are health consequences to food insecurity (12,13,14). For example, children who grow up in food-insecure families have higher chances of diabetes and asthma (5).

The school lunch program used currently has been used to reduce food insecurity for children. During the pandemic, this program was expanded to include all children using emergency funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) (4,9). Currently, Congress is debating whether to continue expanding the free meal program, which will expire at the end of summer 2022 (15,17,18). The recommendations presented in this document can further inform policymakers to address this critical issue through legislation or the introduction of programs that can support families in need.

Households with children and lower-income families are at greater risk of food insecurity during the pandemic.

Our analyses drew on different food security surveys conducted in the US. Firstly, the May 13–14, 2020 ASN survey results measured food insecurity due to COVID-19 (2). ASN survey (Figure 1A) shows that of 1047 households, 15.4% are food insecure. The percentage of food-insecure households among those with children is significantly higher (21%) in May 2020 than the 2016–2017 ASN numbers and the 2018 USDA numbers (13.9%). The percentage of food-insecure households with children is roughly equal to the rate in 2008, during the Great Recession, which shows the negative impact of COVID-19 on food security in homes with children.

Another survey conducted between 30 March and 2 April 2020 showed a relationship between income level and food insecurity (10). Figure 1B displays the household risk for food insecurity change by annual income level after the COVID-19 outbreak. The survey revealed specific vulnerable populations (lower income) are at increased risk for food security during Covid-19 (Figure 1B). Respondents at each income level reported incident risk for food insecurity, ranging from 26 % to 48 % of the population at different income levels.

How can food security in children be improved?

We believe that Congress should support both the renewal and strengthening of school lunch programs. Therefore, we propose implementing the Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021. Congress should approve this program because keeping school meals free to all students makes meals more accessible and reduces stigma. Unfortunately, this program was not included for renewal in the current spending bill (1,3,17).

Moreover, Congress could vote on increasing tax incentives to private corporations that give financial support to nonprofits and other associations that deal with food insecurity. Since inflation has risen significantly, more financial support is necessary to support existing programs to ensure access to healthy and nutritious food for all children during school closures.

Key messages

• There is a clear correlation between children’s food insecurity (school closures) and the pandemic: 15.4% of households are food insecure.
• Respondents at different income levels between 30 March and 2 April 2020 reported an incident risk for food insecurity, ranging from 26 % to 48 % of the population at different income levels.
• Congress should implement the Universal School Meals Program Act 2021(15). This program keeps school meals free and accessible to all students, reducing stigma and making meals more accessible to all. Unfortunately, this program was not included for renewal in the current spending bill (1,3,17). Also, tax incentives should be offered to organizations that aid food security.