Exploring Determinants of Food Insecurity in Iowa by Allison Meyer

Food insecurity is a complex and far-reaching issue that defies boundaries of socioeconomic status, age, race, and location. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as “the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.” In 2018, nearly one in six individuals surveyed in Iowa had experienced food insecurity in the last twelve months. However, food insecurity is not an isolated problem. Oftentimes, it is a result of other issues that an individual may face, as well as causing implications on other areas of an individual’s life. By addressing food insecurity in our community and communities across the nation, we can drastically improve the quality of life of members of these communities. The purpose of this research was to isolate variables that show evidence of an association with food insecurity among individuals in Iowa to help paint a clearer picture of the inter-connectedness of the issue. The results of this research show that individuals failing to fulfill their basic needs are suffering from compounded disadvantages that are not being addressed by the current system.