Deserts & Public Health Policy

by Theresa Min

Food deserts are areas where residents in a community have difficulty finding access to healthy, affordable food that improves or maintains their quality of life. Although there is no “consensus on the definition of food desserts, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)” defines it as “areas with poor food access and low area income” (Kelli, 2019). Food deserts are a product of socioeconomic status as those with lower socioeconomic statuses often face inaccessibility to healthy affordable food for not only themselves, but also children. There is now a greater focus on food deserts as it is an “important environmental contributor to individual health” and a “target of community-level interventions to improve health outcomes” (Kelli,2019). Food deserts can be detrimental to the youth, adolescents, adults and the elderly’s health as food patterns and dietary intake patterns have an impact on cardiovascular health and disease. It is important that local, state and federal policies are made to reduce food deserts and improve nutritional intake for communities.

Previous First Lady Michelle Obama’s biggest focus was combatting food desert issues and to develop sustainable strategies to increase access to healthy, affordable food. Michelle Obama worked with three federal departments: Agriculture, Treasury and Health and human services to improve nutrition.  This collaboration used their resources, “encourage local leaders, community development organizations and businesses to form strategic alliances” as this focuses to address the issues of food deserts (Nelson, 2011).  The USDA’s Economic Research Service focuses on identifying food deserts by “publishing a report on food deserts” and “developing the Food Environment Atlas (mapping tool providing baseline description)” to improve healthy food choices (Nelson, 2011). The main goal is to develop interventions that expand access to nutrition, equip stores to sell healthier food, bring together distressed communities and stimulate economic growth. These sources are still utilized to this day and have been helpful to many local communities.  

Currently there are many state policies focusing on increasing access to healthy food and to ensure students are being fed. Many states should quickly follow these policies as these policies focus on securing a food system plan, economic development and to improve accessibility of food to many communities. In 2023, the “Texas legislature enacted HB 3323 to establish a food system security and to provide reasonably-priced food to ensure public health welfare” showing an example of effective jurisdiction to increase access to healthy food (Giambrone, 2025). In 2024, Delaware and Colorado focused on expanding access to healthy foods by awarding grants and financial assistance to increase access to healthy food for low-income communities. For example, “Delaware enacted SB 254 establishing the Delaware Grocery Initiative to expand access to healthy foods” through grants and financial assistance to food banks, supermarkets and corner stores (Giambrone, 2025). Colorado enacted “HB 24-1416” in 2024, “codifying an incentive program to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in low-income communities” focusing  on addressing food insecurity throughout the state (Giambrone, 2025). It was also important as nutritional assistance was made to be more accessible; California (AB 2786) and Pennsylvania (SB 721) developed a program to improve participation for “women, infants and children program (WIC) Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program” (Giambrone,2025). These states have taken initiative to address 

food insecurity and other needs for low-income communities, it is incredibly important that more states follow these programs.

8 states; “California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and Vermont” provided free school meals to public-school students regardless of income (Giambrone, 2025).  In 2023, Illinois (HB 2471) and Washington (HB 1238) enacted legislation to “provide universal free school meals or expand access for public school students” to ensure students are fed. Several states have reassessed their policies to expand eligibility criteria and develop further programs to provide free food regardless of income. Many states also enacted legislation to help students during the summer by providing summer programs to give students food. In 2023, Maine enacted LD 947 developing “summer food service programs to allow for maximum flexibility under federal law for mealtimes and packaging of meals to send home with students” ensuring students are fed year round (Giambrone, 2025). Several states also worked to ensure participation and expand eligibility criteria in the Summer EBT program. For example, California (AB 120), Hawaii (HB 2430) and New Hampshire (SB 499) “enacted legislation authorizing participation in the Summer EBT program” to provide funding to families with children to buy groceries during the summer (Giambrone, 2025).  

These different policies have looked at different issues of food insecurity and food deserts to ensure children, adolescents, women, elderly and all to be fed healthy, affordable food in communities. Food deserts should have a better focus as this is a big public health issue that needs to be examined, analyzed and developed at a local, state and federal level to address the needs of many across the nation. 

References 

Giambrone, Beth. “State Policies Aim to Eliminate Food Deserts.” ASTHO, 24 Jan. 2025, www.astho.org/communications/blog/2025/state-policies-aim-to-eliminate-food-deserts/.  

Kelli, Heval M et al. “Living in Food Deserts and Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease.” Journal of the American Heart Association vol. 8,4 (2019): e010694. doi:10.1161/JAHA.118.010694 

Nelson, Nicole. “Expanding Access to Healthy Food for All Communities.” Home, 2 Feb. 2011, www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/expanding-access-healthy-food-all-communities.