Lynn McIntyre’s “food insecurity not the flip side of food security policy” (2011) explains the legitimate concern for food insecurity as it is a public health issue in Canada. Food insecurity has been associated with poor physical and mental outcomes along with chronic conditions (Statistics Canada, 2013). This issue of food insecurity is directly associated with the level of household income (McIntyre, 2011). McIntyre illustrates how the level of household income is a social determinant which has adverse effects on people. Families of low-income lack the financial resources that are essential in maintaining healthy foods and diets on a day to day basis. McIntyre’s main argument illustrates how policies focused on food insecurity have not
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Living in constant stress and insecurity will have significant influences on health. It can be noted that employment, prices of food and income are essential for everyday living. Those who are food insecure, both children and adults, lack these three necessities suffer from poor health. The working poor are earning minimum wage, which is evidently not enough money to cover the necessary expenses of living – shelter, food, clothing, heat, transportation (Taber, 2014). Due to the increasing prices of foods, those who are food insecure cannot afford nutritious foods therefore they are not consuming enough servings of fruits and vegetables resulting in dietary deficiencies (Raphael, 2010). Those living in low-income households are most likely overweight or obese. They suffer from financial insecurity, and with increased prices of food the food insecure are resulting to food which is cheap and bad for one’s health (McIntyre, 2011). Ultimately, employment and income are essential for everyday living. There must be a shift in public policy in order to overcome poverty – a living wage of 16 or $17 an hour would reduce poverty (Taber, 2014). This living wage has been ignored by the government. If these issues were being addressed, the governments must increase the income of those who are food insecure by increasing minimum wage or social assistance rates (Raphael, 2010). It is also essential that healthy foods are affordable and accessible. Food insecurity is an issue which is slowly increasing among Canadians. Approximately four million Canadians are affected by food insecurity to some degree (Taber,
Living in constant stress and insecurity will have significant influences on health. It can be noted that employment, prices of food and income are essential for everyday living. Those who are food insecure, both children and adults, lack these three necessities suffer from poor health. The working poor are earning minimum wage, which is evidently not enough money to cover the necessary expenses of living – shelter, food, clothing, heat, transportation (Taber, 2014). Due to the increasing prices of foods, those who are food insecure cannot afford nutritious foods therefore they are not consuming enough servings of fruits and vegetables resulting in dietary deficiencies (Raphael, 2010). Those living in low-income households are most likely overweight or obese. They suffer from financial insecurity, and with increased prices of food the food insecure are resulting to food which is cheap and bad for one’s health (McIntyre, 2011). Ultimately, employment and income are essential for everyday living. There must be a shift in public policy in order to overcome poverty – a living wage of 16 or $17 an hour would reduce poverty (Taber, 2014). This living wage has been ignored by the government. If these issues were being addressed, the governments must increase the income of those who are food insecure by increasing minimum wage or social assistance rates (Raphael, 2010). It is also essential that healthy foods are affordable and accessible. Food insecurity is an issue which is slowly increasing among Canadians. Approximately four million Canadians are affected by food insecurity to some degree (Taber,