The Issue of Food Insecurity in the State of Mississippi

Food security is becoming a large problem in the state of Mississippi. According to USDA, food insecurity is the measure of the lack of access to adequate food for an active, healthy lifestyle for all family members, with limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally sufficient foods in these areas. It has been discovered that Mississippi has the worst rate of hunger out of all the states in the nation. Children are the most affected by food insecurity, and rural areas are the most susceptible.

In our beloved state of Mississippi, food insecurity is very common. 28.3% of the state’s population and over 210,000 Mississippi children were hungry at some point during the year. 647,000 Mississippians live in defined hunger. In Forrest County, 16,980 people live in state of food insecurity, not knowing when they will have their next meal. Food insecurity exists in every county in America, but Holmes County in Mississippi has the highest percentage of food insecurity in the entire country! Astoundingly, in Mississippi, there are more hungry individuals in Hinds County (57,000) than there are in the entire state of North Dakota (51,850)!

In the state of Mississippi, there are several “food deserts”. Food deserts are described as geographic areas where residents’ access to affordable, healthy food options, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, is limited or absent due to the lack of grocery stores within convenient travelling distance. Areas with food deserts have at least a 20% poverty rate in the defined area, allowing the situation to coincide with poverty. In the Lower Mississippi Delta, one supermarket must serve an area of almost 200 square miles. Residents that live in these areas have to drive at least 30 miles or more from home to receive access to fresh food. Healthy food options are limited in these areas due to the lack of variety and the extreme poverty, allowing fast food restaurants to be more accessible. As a result, there is an increased amount of obesity, and this is one reason why Mississippi is one of the most obese states in the nation. A recent study shows that food insecurity can cause an increase in blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and other signs of cardiovascular trouble. This is why food insecurity in Mississippi should be solved!

Solving food insecurity in Mississippi will not be easy, but there are many options available to help supply food in our community and in our state. Local volunteering organizations include Extra Table, located in Hattiesburg. In order to make a change, volunteer with your friends, family, or church to make a large impact. The smallest amount helps! As young individuals in our community, we need to use our time to help the several people that struggle with food insecurity in the state of Mississippi. Donate food to a local food bank, help distribute food, or work an event! The best gift you can give to someone is your time!

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