Ian Patrick, FISM News
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The Biden administration is looking to attack the hunger issue in America through a new initiative. However, they are funding this program in the midst of record-high inflation, including food prices.
On September 28, Biden and his officials are hosting what they call the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. A fact sheet released by the White House states that this conference will act “to catalyze action for the millions of Americans struggling with food insecurity and diet-related diseases like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.”
“The Conference will lay out a transformational vision for ending hunger and reducing diet-related disease by 2030 – all while closing disparities among the communities that are impacted most,” the statement reads.
The initiative will use $8 billion dollars in funds raised from “private- and public-sector commitments.” About half, or $4 billion, of this allocation will be used for “philanthropy that improves access to nutritious food, promotes healthy choices, and increases physical activity” while a minimum of $2.5 billion will be used to invest in start-up companies with the goal of addressing “hunger and food insecurity.”
The initiative is divided into five factions, or pillars, to address these nutrition-centric issues. They are as follows: improve food access and affordability, integrate nutrition and health, empower consumers to make and have access to healthy choices, support physical activity for all, and enhance nutrition and food security research.
Multiple companies and organizations have signed on to contribute or be a part of this initiative.
Companies such as Chobani, Doordash, and Google have agreed to help with the first pillar of food access by modifying their own features and services to improve food outreach. Other companies have agreed to food donations, like Warner Bros. Discovery.
For food nutrition and health, many medical services and companies have agreed to certain programs and donations that encourage healthier eating habits. Similarly, companies like Tyson, Walgreens, and Instacart are investing in charities or changing services to offer healthier and more nutritious food options at grocery stores and other markets.
Gymnasiums and sports organizations, including the YMCA and Special Olympics, will launch new initiatives and investments to encourage physical activity and cut down on obesity rates.
Finally, other companies and organizations have agreed to certain amounts of funding to invest in research and awareness of nutrition and food security.
Good nutrition and physical fitness is a concern for everyone, but unhealthy habits and obesity are particular problems for Americans.
CDC data shows that from 2017 to March 2020, the prevalence of obesity in American adults aged 20 and older was 41.6%. Other data shows that only about 26% of American adults aged 18 and older said they engaged in some type of non-leisure physical activity (i.e. running, walking, or golf) within a month back in 2019.
Nutrition seems to have improved over the years, but data still shows some worrisome habits. Again in 2019, CDC data shows that 39.2% of Americans age 18 and over reported consuming fruit less than one time a day. The same parameters for vegetables were somewhat better, as 21% of Americans in the same age range said they consume less than one vegetable daily.
The concern lying behind this initiative does not lie in its intention to support nutrition and healthy habits, at least not entirely. Most of the concern lies in the cost of such an initiative during a time of inflation and high food prices.
The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report on the consumer price index showed that food prices have increased 11.4% from August 2021 to August 2022. Combined with other increased prices, Americans are having to change their habits and lifestyles to either save money or break even.