Food Assistance and
Nutrition Policy
Year
World
Developing regions
Africa
Asia
Latin America and the Caribbean
Developed regions
2011-13
2010-12
2009-11
2008-10
2007-09
2006-08
2005-07
2004-06
2003-05
2002-04
2001-03
2000-02
1999-01
1998-00
1997-99
1996-98
1995-97
1994-96
1993-95
1992-94
1991-93
1990-92
Undernourished (,000,000)
Malnutrition Across the World
Number of People Undernourished
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Malnutrition Across the World
• Malnutrition affects many countries,
mostly developing economies.
• Asia largest numbers – Why?
– Also largest reduction – Why?
• Africa increasing –Why?
Malnutrition in the U.S.A.
• Data mixed but shows that:
– About 13 million children live in homes with
limited access to sufficient food
– 3 million children are malnourished
– 1:100,000 die from malnutrition
• c.v 53.3:100,000 in Haiti
Malnutrition in the U.S.A.
• Data mixed but shows that:
– Malnutrition is just not a child problem
– 1 million elderly people at home are
malnourished
– 35-50% of people in aged care and up to 65%
in hospitals are also malnourished.
Problems of Global and U.S. Hunger
• Typically called an overpopulation and
lack of distribution problem.
• But this is simplistic as most countries
have sufficient supplies of food.
Problems of Global and U.S. Hunger
• Daily intake – 2,400 and 2,600 calories.
• Supply – 2,860 calories
• Why is there are problem?
Problems of Global and U.S. Hunger
• Low income
– Can’t afford to buy food, therefore grow own,
but no access to land (Cycle effect).
• Need to increase incomes to improve
food access.
Problems of Global and U.S. Hunger
• Income distribution.
– USA (L 10% - 3.6%, H 10% - 30%)
– Haiti (L 10% -0.7%, H 10% - 47.7%)
• Income distribution also indicator of
children at risk.
Problems of Global and U.S. Hunger
• Price of Food
– In a market economy, price is a guide to
producers and consumers.
– Income elasticities of food
• Poor countries – high income elasticity
• Rich countries – low income elasticity
• What does this mean when food price
rise?
Problems of Global and U.S. Hunger
• Price of Food
– Low income countries set price controls to
keep food prices low.
– What does this do to production?
– What happens over the long term?
Problems of Global and U.S. Hunger
• Price of Food
– Policy options instead of price controls.
• Subsidize production or consumption of
staple.
• Must be careful or subsidy may become
permanent with more complications.
Problems of Global and U.S. Hunger
• Price of Food
– Imports replace domestic production, leads
to low farm productivity, which is then
blamed as the problem in food prices, but
price control is the real problem.
Problems of Global and U.S. Hunger
• Low levels of education
– Higher education improves productivity and
therefore incomes, and improvements in diet.
– Higher levels of education reduce
reproduction rates, and reduce population
growth.
– Improves income distribution.
Problems of Global and U.S. Hunger
• Poor health
– Poor sanitation – increased diseases and
effects exacerbated by malnutrition.
– Health care problems i.e. HIV/AIDS in Africa.
• War and Civil Insurrection.
– Disrupt food production and supply chains.
– Corruption.
International Hunger Policy
• UN and FAO
– Member nations of the UN make policy on
consensus.
• World Food Summit 1996, updated 2002.
– Reduce malnutrition by half by 2015
– Last meeting on topic.
World Hunger Policy Options
• Food Self-sufficiency
– At what cost?
• Food price controls
• Food Aid
– Short term solution
– Useful in emergencies – i.e. tsunami
– Need to be careful – don’t interfere with
production
World Hunger Policy Options
• Food Assistance
– Different from food aid – longer term targeted
programs – school lunches.
• Education – changing distribution of
income, reducing birth rate and helath
problems
World Hunger Policy Options
• Health Care
• Private Land Ownership
– Clearly defined property rights and
transferable property rights.
• Infrastructure – public goods.
• Research – IRRI, ILRI, CIMMYT
U.S. Hunger and Nutrition Policy
• Who makes policy?
–
–
–
–
2 Senate committees.
3 House committees.
Centered in USDA
Two types of programs
• Food assistance
• Nutrition education.
U.S. Hunger and Nutrition Policy
• U.S Policy History
– Depression era
– 1960s move away from commodity
distribution to food stamps
– 1970s nutrition era
• Education
U.S. Hunger and Nutrition Policy
• U.S Policy History
– 1970s nutrition era
• Nutrition education.
• WIC (women, infants and children)
• School breakfast program
• 1987 – Older Americans Act.
U.S. Hunger and Nutrition Options
• Food assistance
– Commodity distribution
• Food purchased by USDA
• Consequences?
– Food stamps
• Consumers purchase food through regular
retail chain
U.S. Hunger and Nutrition Options
• Food assistance
– Child nutrition programs
• School lunch and breakfast programs
• Subsidized milk
• Nutrition standards
• Current status
U.S. Hunger and Nutrition Options
• Food assistance
– WIC
• Support to mothers, infants and children
at risk
• Health as well as nutrition support and
referrals.
U.S. Hunger and Nutrition Options
• Food assistance
– Elder nutrition programs
• Numerous programs to provide nutrition,
food and health support to elderly US
residents
U.S. Hunger and Nutrition Options
• One option is to allow people to “cashout” program payments.
– What are the potential problems here?
Nutrition Education
• Center for Nutrition Policy and
Promotion.
–
–
–
–
Established 1994
Food Pyramid
Nutrition Guidelines
EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition
Education Program – USDA).
Labeling – for Nutrition
•
•
•
•
Product Identity
Ingredient labeling
Nutrition labeling
Preparation and warning labels
Trade Offs
• Food Supply
• Food Safety