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May 23, 2022
Darianny De La Cruz
Professor Rebecca Olerich
Food Insecurity
Food insecurity is denominated as the second pandemic. After the impact of the COVID19, the number of hungry people in the U.S has been increasing tremendously. This phenomenon
can be unbelievable for many people because the U.S is recognized as a rich country; therefore,
it is essential to explain what food insecurity is, the causes and consequences, and how different
writers make claims about it. First of all, let us say that food insecurity is the insecurity of not
being aware of what we will eat next. Food insecurity is also related to the lack of access to good
quality food. As a result of the factors mentioned before, health problems as obesity have been
showing the consequences of food insecurity. In the essay Don't Blame the Eater by David
Zinczenko, Why Don't Convenience Stores Sell Better Food? By Olga Khazan and what You Eat
is Your Business by Radley Balko, the speakers discuss why people deal with food insecurity.
Zinczenko explains who is responsible for the causes of obesity and health problems. On the
other hand, Khazan describes the lack of accessibility to healthy and less expensive food options
in her essay. Balko explains how the government, by restricting food, taxing high-calorie food,
and considering menu labeling, is controlling people's food and eating habits. In my opinion, it is
necessary to educate the population about better eating habits. It should change the way they
choose between a 1-dollar apple or a bag of chips to be convenient for them.
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Every day is less often to see people choosing healthy food to eat, a popular excuse for
it is "I have no time to prepare my food at home, I just can grab something quick on my way to
work or home" that's why the fast-food industry has been very dominant over the years. As we
all know, those fast-food advertisements are everywhere, and it's easier to get something to eat
from there than cook something at home. Consider that fast food does not have labels that
explain what we are eating; instead of your cooked meals, you know what it contains and how it
is prepared. "Make fun if you will of these kids launching lawsuits against the fast-food industry,
but do not be surprised if you are the next plaintiff" (Zinczenko 649). The writer explains that the
fast-food industry is not honest with their advertisements regarding the health hazards to their
products. If people are not appropriately informed, they cannot make informed choices when
they get fast food. Zinczenko states: "There are no calorie information charts on fast-food
packing, the way there are on grocery items. Advertisements don't carry warning labels the way
tobacco ads do" (Zinczenko 648). Zinczenko supports the idea that many families suffering from
food insecurity do not have the necessary resources to enjoy a portion of great and healthy food
cooked at home.
Second, Khazan explains that when people visit grocery stores, they are mainly
looking for something they can eat quickly, like potatoes chips, or cookies that help to fill their
cravings. It is rare to hear people saying: "I am going to the bodega to get some fresh tomatoes
and peppers," fresh fruits and vegetables are not mainly sought for people into a bodega. 'Grab
and go' products are the main characteristic of convenience stores. This reason supports what
Khazan states: "The owner, Jae Chung, was reluctant to stock things like tomatoes, which would
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often go bad while they lingered on the shelves." (Khazan 633). In addition, convenience stores
have to buy a large amount to pay a lower price for the products, but they don't have the capacity
to sell them quickly before they go bad. A couple of reasons support why people consume junk
food instead of healthy food. The lack of access to healthy food stores in many neighborhoods is
one fact that does not help people eat better and the high cost of healthy food. When people have
to buy food with a limited amount of money, they usually choose food that fulfills their stomachs
instead of the healthier ones. A personal situation is an example of this. A couple of months ago,
I had only 18 dollars for a whole week. I chose to buy a package of Chinese soups to cover the
week instead of buying better food; even when I wanted to eat better, my budget didn't allow me
to do it.
Third, Balko argues that the government should not interfere in public health and
diet. According to the writer, people have no motivation to maintain their own health. Balko
seems to think that people have to assume responsibility for what they eat, healthy or not, which
I agree with. If you have the power to eat organic food and you choose to eat junk food, there are
no valid excuses to support your unhealthy lifestyle. Instead of people who have to eat what they
can, instead eat what they want to. Balko states: "We're becoming less responsible for our own
health, and more responsible for everyone else's. Your heart attack drives up the cost of my
premiums and office visits. And if the government is paying for my anti-cholesterol medication,
what incentive is there for me to put down the cheeseburger?" (Balko 652). The writer also says:
"We'll all make better choices about diet, exercise, and personal health when someone else is not
paying for the consequences of those choices." (Balko 654).
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In conclusion, food insecurity affects much more people than we can even
imagine. Factors like financial and oblivion drive people to go for unhealthy choices. In the fastfood industries case, they should consider informing people, especially kids, about what they are
eating to choose better what they are going to put into their bodies. The lack of access to healthy
food in many areas is another significant cause of food insecurity, especially for those who
cannot afford better food based on prices, so they have to consume what their budget allows
them to. We all should stop throwing our health problems to the government and start assuming
responsibility for what we eat. Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to choose what to
eat because of economic limits. Food insecurity hits in many ways and is a personal and public
responsibility to fight it.
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Works cited:

Khazan, Olga. "Why Don't Convenience Stores Sell Better Food?" March 2, 2015

Zinczenko, David. "Don't Blame the Eater." November 23, 2002

Balko, Radley. "What You Eat Is Your Business." May 23, 2004