More often than usual, we do not think of food as a social issue, especially when it comes to poverty and racism; however, these are factors that damage the marginalized in more ways than one. Food deserts affect many aspects of peoples lives, mainly people of color. The article, "What's a 'Food Desert'?" describes food deserts as a, "geographic areas where mainstream grocery stores are either totally absent or inaccessible to low-income shoppers" (Market Makeovers). The article states that food deserts mostly occur in rural areas, and how grocery stores can be more than a mile away. This creates many health issues for the residents living there, and for minorities to become the ones affected by it. Most of the time, the food that is available in places like convenience stores, or small stores have mostly only junk food. In food desert areas, it is shown that fast food restaurants are always present instead of actual grocery stores. Not only that but vegetables cost a lot more since it is hard to obtain them or sell them. This type of issues causes for obesity rates to go up, and it is shown to target poor resident areas. It is shown in the diagram below how food deserts play a big role in our health. The article, "Food Deserts" (second link) goes in more depth on what cities are mostly affected and how to recognize a food desert in the city. Generally, richer neighborhoods have more grocery stores present and less fast foods, while poorer neighborhoods suffer from almost none existent supermarkets. In 2008, South L.A demonstrated to have many food desert areas which affected an area of mostly Latino and Black residents. Food deserts are everywhere and can be as local as cities like Compton, Bell, and Norwalk. The article then ends with solutions and ways to fix food desert areas.
I agree that food deserts play a big role in our health. We tend to buy what is offered to us the closest. Our economy has changed a lot over the years due to having cheap, easily affordable food at our hands. I don't agree with having healthy food in poor areas be more expensive and pricey then the unhealthy fast food. It just enforces people to go for the unhealthy stuff. Our own government is responsible for obesity and health problems. If we really wanted to change this problem, then they could lower prices in healthy food options like fruits and vegetables and increase the price in all the unhealthy fast food options. Not only should they change prices but also provide more food grocery markets instead of having so many different types of fast food places around us. We should care more about choosing and eating the right foods in order to prevent health issues like obesity.
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