Food security is a term that is used to represent the accessibility of people towards food that is affordable, safe, provides the recommended dietary intake, and is culturally acceptable. To add on, the food can be obtained with dignity by the people (i.e. through own finances or hard work, and not through theft), and is produced without serious controversies.
People tend to associate poverty with food insecurity, but in fact, it is only one of the reasons to it. There is actually more to it than being unable to buy the food. It actually involves the entire food system, hence, affects everyone in its process.
Even with money, it is possible to be struck by food insecurity. If disaster or infestation strikes among plantations or the animals we eat, this is how we can be affected by the lack of such food in our diet. Contamination of the water or land also creates a big distress, as people are left to drink from the contaminated water if no other sources are available, or if other sources are available, would cause plants and animals that feed from it to be affected by them, and in turn, the people who eat them.
Another instance of food insecurity is when people are unable to attain the nutrition they should receive despite the ability to attain the food readily. This usually occurs among people who carry diseases such as Pellagra, being unable to absorb the necessary nutrients into their systems.
There are also times when food is readily available, but the healthy food costs much more than the unhealthy food, causing people to choose the cheaper option. This is especially common among teenagers who do not earn their own living and are subjected to their parent’s pocket money, or people who barely earn enough in a day.
However, if all these can be overcome, this is when people have achieved food security.
