Food insecurity prominent among low-income California Latinos

Fujii, M; Melgar-Quiñonez, H; Crawford, P; Kaiser, L; Lamp, C; Martin, A; Metz, D; Nicholson, Y; Townsend, M

Food insecurity prominent among low-income California Latinos

Authors

Mary Lavender Fujii
Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez
Patricia B. Crawford
Lucia L. Kaiser
Cathi L. Lamp
Anna C. Martin
Diane L. Metz
Yvonne Nicholson
Marilyn S. Townsend

Authors Affiliations

M.L. Fujii is Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences Advisor, UCCE Contra Costa County; H. Melgar-Quiñonez is Assistant Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Ohio State University (formerly Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Nutrition, UC Davis); P.B. Crawford is Nutrition Specialist, Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, UC Berkeley; L.L. Kaiser is Nutrition Specialist, Department of Nutrition, UC Davis; C.L. Lamp is Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences Advisor, UCCE Tulare County; A.C. Martin is Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) San Joaquin County; D.L. Metz is Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences Advisor, UCCE Solano County; Y. Nicholson is Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences Advisor, UCCE Sacramento County; M.S. Townsend is Nutrition Education Specialist, Department of Nutrition, UC Davis.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 58(1):18-23. DOI:10.3733/ca.v058n01p18. January 2004.

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Abstract

Food security is defined as access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. In a study of 212 low-income Latino households in California, 45% were food insecure without hunger; 13% food insecure with moderate hunger; and 3% food insecure with severe hunger. Food insecurity was associated with a decline in household supplies of both nutritious and less nutritious foods. Among preschool children, the number of servings per day of all food groups was significantly correlated with household food supplies. A strong safety net to improve food security in low-income populations must include educational strategies and provision of nutritious foods to support a good diet at home and away from home.

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