Explain the concept of food security in the U.S

Answer 1

The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as "when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life" (World Health Organization, 2012). While food security includes access to healthy food items, this term is also used to define the minimum level of socially acceptable access to food required to sustain normal functioning. For example, in the American culture, accessing quality food at a food bank or shelter is less socially acceptable than purchasing those foods at a supermarket. The USDA defines households as having low food security when members have to modify their diet quality because of limited income or limited access. Such households may still be able to consume enough food to meet their energy needs; however, diet quality is compromised. An even more extreme situation exists for households with very low food security. These households have had to limit overall food intake at some point in the previous year. The most recent estimates show that 9.1% of U.S. households have low food security and 5.4% of U.S. households have very low food security (USDA & ERS, 2011).?