INFORMATION RESOURCES ON FOOD AND HEALTH
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Food poverty
Introduction
Food poverty has been defined as the inability to obtain a nutritionally adequate diet, and refers to households that “do not have enough food to meet the energy and nutrient needs of all of their members”1 . A number of factors can lead to the development of food poverty in a household including: inability to access food outlets in a local area; poor availability of healthy food items even if there is access to food outlets in a local area; certain population groups may experience problems related to affordability of healthy items to achieve a healthy diet; and a lack of awareness of what constitutes a healthy diet may also play an important role.
A number of different population groups have been identified as being most likely to live in food poverty.2 The elderly or individuals with restricted mobility may have problems in accessing healthy food if there is not adequate availability in their local area. Due to mobility problems, these groups will be unable to travel long distances to supermarkets outside their local area, especially if there is not adequate public or community transport in place. Households with dependent children and members of black and minority ethnic groups are also reported as being at risk of living in food poverty.
Low income groups and those that are unemployed or living on benefits are also reported as being at risk of food poverty, due to the limited budgets of these population groups. For the majority of these groups, the proportion of their budget that is spent on food is flexible and is often the amount that remains after all other bills have been paid. At specific times of the year, e.g. during the winter, the proportion available for food may be significantly reduced. Such limitations may prevent these groups from purchasing an adequate amount of food to achieve a healthy diet.
Addressing Food Poverty in the East Midlands
This section detail case studies of initiatives undertaken in the East Midlands which attempt to address some of the underlying causes of poor accessibility to healthy food, and thus food poverty. Links are provided to web-sites where details of these case studies are already available.
If you wish to add details of an initiative in your area that is working to tackle food poverty, please send information to Sarah Jane Flaherty (sarah.flaherty@empho.nhs.uk).
Nottinghamshire County Council Caterer
This case study provides an example of how changes can be made to school meals to improve accessibility to healthy foods in school environments. With the help of the Food for Life Partnership all primary and secondary schools in Nottinghamshire County, catered by the Local Authority, have implemented a school menu based largely on organic, local and sustainable food sources.
Inclusion Unit at Eastwood Comprehensive School
This unit became a flagship school for the Food for Life Partnership in March 2008. The initial plan was to develop a school allotment for those children typically excluded from such activities, and it has progressed into a wider project encompassing the whole food cycle. Produce from the school allotment, along with produce from a local farmer, are now the main food sources for the lunch menu at the school.
Grow Great Grub
This initiative was established with the aim of supporting individuals in learning basic growing techniques, rather than attempting to make everyone a skilled horticulturist. A course was developed which combined the theory of growing with practical garden sessions, which was found to be useful in reinforcing the learning of all participants.
Other resources on food poverty
Food Poverty Toolkit
The ‘Food Poverty Toolkit’ was produced following the publication of the 2003 government’s programme for action on tackling health inequalities, and anticipating the government’s Food and Health Action Plan. The Toolkit provides evidence and information for all those concerned with developing and implementing local nutrition and food poverty strategies and programmes.
Sustain
Sustain advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals and improve the working and living environment. The Food Access Network, ran by Sustain, has been superseded by the Local Action on Food Network, although archive pages are still available on previous work undertaken to address food poverty in the UK and methods suitable for measuring poor accessibility to healthy foods in different communities.
Food Vision
Food Vision aims to provide information for those working on the food and health agenda in local areas, such as local authorities, community groups and health professionals. It lists a number of case studies aimed at improving accessibility to healthy food in local areas, and also provides details on methods used to map access to food outlets in a local area.
References
1. DeRose L, Messer E, Millman S. Who's hungry? And how do we know? Food shortage, poverty, and deprivation. New York: United Nations University Press; 1998.
2. Press V, Mwatsama M. Nutrition and Food Poverty. A toolkit for those involved in developing or implementing a local nutrition and food poverty strategy. London: National Heart Forum; 2004.
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PAGE CREATED: 1 April 2007 | PAGE REVISED: 7 July 2009