Dataset Information

SNAP, campus food insecurity, and the politics of deservingness.

ABSTRACT: Many low-income college students are barred from food assistance for no reason other than the fact that they are pursuing a college education. Based on 22 interviews that capture the experiences of food insecure college students as they attempt to navigate SNAP, this study shows how low enrollment in the program and food insecurity are the predictable outcomes of policy decisions intended to restrict access to both free public higher education and public assistance in the 1980's and 1990's and were shaped by the racialized politics of deservingness. By documenting the barriers students encounter attempting to access food assistance, this study shows how these policies play out in the lives of students at the City University of New York (CUNY) today. Ultimately, the politics of deservingness create significant direct and indirect barriers to SNAP enrollment for students and limit policy makers' and advocates' attempts to expand SNAP and address food insecurity on college campuses.

Supplementary information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10460-021-10273-3.

SUBMITTER: Dickinson M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8515333 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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SNAP, campus food insecurity, and the politics of deservingness.

Dickinson Maggie M

Agriculture and human values 20211014 2

Many low-income college students are barred from food assistance for no reason other than the fact that they are pursuing a college education. Based on 22 interviews that capture the experiences of food insecure college students as they attempt to navigate SNAP, this study shows how low enrollment in the program and food insecurity are the predictable outcomes of policy decisions intended to restrict access to both free public higher education and public assistance in the 1980's and 1990's and w ...[more]

PMID: 34664002

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Project description:BackgroundUltra-processed foods contribute to risks of obesity and cardiometabolic disease, and higher intakes have been observed in low-income populations in the United States. Consumption of ultra-processed foods may be particularly higher among individuals experiencing food insecurity and participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).ObjectivesUsing data from the 2007-2016 NHANES, we examined the associations between food insecurity, SNAP participation, and ultra-processed food consumption.MethodsThe study population comprised 9190 adults, aged 20-65 y, with incomes ≤300% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Food insecurity was assessed using the Household Food Security Survey Module and SNAP participation over the past 12 mo was self-reported. Dietary intake was measured from two 24-h dietary recalls. Ultra-processed food consumption (percentage of total energy intake) was defined using the NOVA food classification system. Linear regression models were used to examine the associations between food insecurity, SNAP participation, and ultra-processed food consumption, adjusting for sociodemographic and health characteristics.ResultsMore severe food insecurity was associated with higher intakes of ultra-processed foods (P-trend = 0.003). The adjusted means of ultra-processed food intake ranged from 52.6% for adults with high food security to 55.7% for adults with very low food security. SNAP participation was also associated with higher intakes of ultra-processed foods (adjusted mean: 54.7%), compared with income-eligible participants (adjusted mean: 53.0%). Furthermore, the association between food insecurity and ultra-processed foods was modified by SNAP participation (P-interaction = 0.02). Among income-eligible nonparticipants and income-ineligible nonparticipants, more severe food insecurity was associated with higher consumption of ultra-processed foods. Among SNAP participants, the association between food insecurity and consumption of ultra-processed foods was nonsignificant.ConclusionIn a nationally representative sample of adults, food insecurity and SNAP participation were both associated with higher levels of ultra-processed food consumption.

Project description:BackgroundTo achieve zero hunger targets set within the United Nations' Agenda 2030, high-income countries such as Australia must reconsider current efforts to improve food security. This study aimed to; explore perspectives from public health nutrition experts on the usefulness of drawing on the international human right to food, and associated mechanisms, to address food insecurity; identify potential roles of key stakeholders in Australia to implement a rights-based approach; and examine barriers and enablers to achieving the right to food in Australia.MethodsQualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants (> 10 years professional experience). Braun and Clarke's (2006) six-phase approach to thematic analysis was employed to analyse data, using Kingdon's multiple streams framework (1984) to examine interactive variables which affect policy-making processes.ResultsThirty interviews took place, with most participants representing academia (n = 16), majority had 10-14 years of experience (n = 12) and almost one quarter (n = 7) were in senior leadership roles. Participants believed that framing food insecurity as a human rights issue could be effective when communicating with some audiences, however alternative rhetoric is more popular and potentially more effective. Citizens, government, food industry, non-profit sector, research/tertiary and legal institutions were described as playing critical roles. Barriers to progress were identified as lack of awareness and acknowledgement of the problem, prioritisation of the private sector, lack of political will and domestic laws, and an inefficient/ineffective charitable food sector. Participants identified various enablers and opportunities for implementing a rights-based approach such as grass-roots advocacy efforts to raise awareness of the issue, integrating human rights into government frameworks and community projects and the political will to support action aligned with sustainable development.ConclusionsHuman rights language and mechanisms have the potential to trigger genuine commitment to addressing food insecurity however should be used with caution. Australia's public health workforce requires increased capacity to implement a human-rights approach and framing such efforts to align with sustainable development may achieve greater political action.Trial registrationEthics approval was received from the Deakin University Human Research Ethics committee (project ID HEAG 168_2018).

Dataset Information

SNAP, campus food insecurity, and the politics of deservingness.

Supplementary information

Publications

SNAP, campus food insecurity, and the politics of deservingness.

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