Continuing our conversation on global hunger, let's shift our focus to countries that are often not connected with hunger in general discourse, namely those part of the Western world. We will first briefly explore hunger in the United States before examining it in Canada and the United Kingdom.
In 2006, the US changed the language of hunger: hunger has been relabelled as "food insecurity" in an attempt to account for the variations and severity of food insecurity prevalent within its borders today. Although the methods to measure hunger were not altered, the new label allows policymakers, amongst others, to understand the levels of food insecurity and develop strategies to address it (USDA: http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/definitions-of-food-security.aspx#.UjyVjWTXhcQ). Such labelling however runs the risk of shifting the emphasis from hunger as it effects people to a more political debate.
The United States Department of Agriculture published a report in September 2011 titled, “Household Food Security in the United States in 2010” by Alisha Coleman-Jensen, et al. This report highlights the following:
1. Although an estimated 85.5% of American households were food secure throughout 2010, approximately 14.5% were food insecure at least some part of the year. This is the highest number of food insecure households ever recorded in the United States.
2. Approximately 6.7 million households, or 5.4% of all households, had very low levels of food security. This number has risen from the previous 4.7 million households (or 4.1%) noted in 2007 (http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/us_hunger_facts.htm). While these statistics identify food insecurity for households, bear in mind that some members of the household may eat significantly less than other members (ibid), particularly if parents forego their food portions to ensure their children and/or elderly members of the household get enough to eat.
3. According to the same report, households with children were more at risk for experiencing food insecurity. The report notes, "in 2010, children were food insecure at times during the year in 9.8 percent of households with children (3.9 million households.) In [1%] of households with children, one or more of the children experienced the most severe food-insecure condition measured by USDA, very low food security, in which meals were irregular and food intake was below levels considered adequate by caregivers (Coleman-Jensen 2011, p. vi)".
Given the statistical data for the USA, there is a definite correlation between poverty levels and the ability to ensure food security for a family. For instance, 59% of food insecure households took part in one or more of the "three largest Federal food and nutrition assistance programs" during one month (Coleman-Jensen, Alisha, Mark Nord, Margaret Andrews, and Steven Carlson. "Household Food Security in the United States in 2010." ERR-125, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Econ. Res. Serv. September 2011. http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/err125/ ).
Citing the Centre for American Progress' Hunger in America report, The "No Kid Hungry" campaign of Share Our Strength, notes that the combined costs of hunger and food insecurity is approximately $130.5 billion in the USA (http://www.nokidhungry.org/problem/economic-impact). In 2011 alone, the US government spent $718 billion on defense and international security assistance (Plumer, Brad, "America's staggering defense budget, in charts", Wonk Blog, The Washington Post, January 7, 2013: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/01/07/everything-chuck-hagel-needs-to-know-about-the-defense-budget-in-charts/).
Is it not a matter of national security to feed the people living within its borders? If a fraction of those funds were directed towards addressing hunger and food insecurity in the US, it would aid significantly in addressing this crisis. However, it would be simplistic to assume that mere funds will eradicate the problem. Attention must also be paid to the economic instability and poverty experienced by individuals that leads to food insecurity and hunger.
In 2012, a report published by the National Resources Defence Council highlighted that the US annually throws away approximately 40% of its food at a cost of $165 million, with the level of food waste being 50% higher than in the 1970s, and 10 times as much as someone living in Southeast Asia (http://www.nrdc.org/food/files/wasted-food-ip.pdf). Had the food thrown away instead been utilized appropriately, perhaps many more would have had a chance to eat. This issue deserves more attention than it has received in the past. It is vital that the public becomes aware of such matters and brings it to the attention of their political representatives; it is only through a strong public voice that we will be able to incite change.
In the next musing, I will attempt to examine if the production of biofuels will impact the cost of food.
Until we meet again!
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