What is Food Insecurity?

Feb, 2024

 

Food insecurity is not just about being hungry; rather, it includes the stress of rationing out food, skipping meals, or not knowing when or how you will get your next meal.

 

It is a complex issue and has far-reaching consequences on the health and well-being of individuals and communities. If you’re unsure what ‘food insecurity’ means, you are in the right place.

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Defining Food Insecurity

 

Formal definition: “A person is food insecure when they lack regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life. This may be due to unavailability of food and/or lack of resources to obtain food”.

 

Moderately food insecure means the very least – they are reducing the quality and variety of their food and at worst, not eating regularly.

 

Severely food insecure which means they are actively going hungry – reducing their food intake, skipping meals or going entire days without eating.

 

 

Who is Food Insecure in Australia?

 

Contrary to popular belief, food insecurity is not confined to a specific demographic or region. It affects individuals and families across urban, suburban, and rural areas, cutting across age, gender, and cultural backgrounds. Our research shows that Australia is in a food crisis where 48% of the general population now feels stressed about where their next meal will come from, highlighting the urgency of addressing this issue.

 

For more information on who is food insecure: Click here

 

 

What is ‘food security’?

 

There are three key components of food security (World Health Organization, 2011):

  1. Food access: the capacity to acquire and consume a nutritious diet, including:
    • the ability to buy and transport food;
    • home storage, preparation and cooking facilities;
    • knowledge and skills to make appropriate choices;
    • and time and mobility to shop for and prepare food.
  1. Food availability: the supply of food within a community affecting food security of individuals, households or an entire population, specifically:
    • location of food outlets;
    • availability of food within stores; and
    • price, quality and variety of available food (Nolan, Rickard-Bell, Mohsin, & Williams, 2006).
  1. Food use: the appropriate use of food based on knowledge of basic nutrition and care.

 

 

To find out more on how we are helping end hunger in Australia Click Here

 

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Every $1 donated = 2 meals