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Food desert

Burlingame, Kansas (pictured) is an example of a food desert. All three preexisting grocery stores in Burlingame closed, and the closest grocery store is over 40 km (25 mi) away in Topeka, Kansas.[1]

A food desert is an area that has limited access to food that is plentiful, affordable, or nutritious.[2][3][4] In contrast, an area with greater access to supermarkets and vegetable shops with fresh foods may be called a food oasis.[5] The designation considers the type and the quality of food available to the population, in addition to the accessibility of the food through the size and the proximity of the food stores.[6]

In 2017, the United States Department of Agriculture reported that 39.5 million people or 12.8% of the population were living in low-income and low-access areas.[7] Of this number, 19 million people live in "food deserts", low-income census tracts that are more than 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) from a supermarket in urban or suburban areas and more than 10 miles (16 kilometers) from a supermarket in rural areas.[7][8]

Food deserts tend to be inhabited by low-income residents with inadequate access to transportation, which makes them less attractive markets for large supermarket chains.[9][10] These areas lack suppliers of fresh foods, such as meats, fruits, and vegetables. Instead, available foods are likely to be processed and high in sugar and fats, which are known contributors to obesity in the United States.[11]

A related concept is the phenomenon of a food swamp, a recently coined term by researchers who defined it as an area with a disproportionate number of fast food restaurants (and fast food advertising) in comparison to the number of supermarkets in that area.[12] The single supermarket in a low-income area does not, according to researchers Rose and colleagues, necessitate availability nor does it decrease obesity rates and health risks.[12]

The concept has its critics, who argue that merely focusing on geographical proximity does not reflect the actual purchasing habits of households and obscures other causes of poor diets.

  1. ^ Silva, Jill Wendholt (November 24, 2010). "Food deserts: Closed grocery stores leave a void in rural areas". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  2. ^ "The Community for Science-Based Nutrition | American Nutrition Association". americannutritionassociation.org. Archived from the original on October 5, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  3. ^ Story, Mary; Kaphingst, Karen M.; Robinson-O'Brien, Ramona; Glanz, Karen (2008). "Creating healthy food and eating environments: policy and environmental approaches". Annual Review of Public Health. 29: 253–272. doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.29.020907.090926. ISSN 0163-7525. PMID 18031223.
  4. ^ "Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, 110th Cong, 2nd Sess, HR 6124, Title VII" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  5. ^ "Food Oasis :: Washington State Department of Health". Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  6. ^ Coveney, John; O'Dwyer, Lisel A (2009). "Effects of mobility and location on food access". Health & Place. 15 (1): 45–55. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2008.01.010. PMID 18396090.
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference www.usda.gov was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Diaz de Villegas, Carolina; Rodriguez, Kiara. "Medley Food Desert Project" (PDF). Florida International University Department of Biological Sciences. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  9. ^ Lee, Courtney Hall (February 23, 2017). "Grocery Store Inequity". Sojourners. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  10. ^ Phillips, Anna Lena (2011). "Making Better Maps of Food Deserts". American Scientist. 99 (3): 209. doi:10.1511/2011.90.209. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  11. ^ "Living in a Food Desert: How Lack of Access to Healthy Foods Can Affect Public Health | Notes From NAP". notes.nap.edu. January 25, 2011. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  12. ^ a b Cooksey-Stowers, Kristen; Schwartz, Marlene; Brownell, Kelly (2017-11-14). "Food Swamps Predict Obesity Rates Better Than Food Deserts in the United States". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 14 (11): 1366. doi:10.3390/ijerph14111366. ISSN 1660-4601. PMC 5708005. PMID 29135909.
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