Food Security
Increasing and improving healthy food environments and strengthening healthy food access.
As defined at the 1996 World Food Summit, food security is attained "when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life" (World Bank). Nearly 12 percent of Mecklenburg County’s households are considered food insecure, which means they have a reduced quality and variety of diet, may eat less, and have eating patterns that are disrupted due to lack of money and resources (Feeding America).
The goal of the Food Security programs is to increase and improve healthy food environments and improve economic and physical access to food. Limited access to healthy food can lead to poor diets, which can contribute to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Individuals earning low incomes are also more likely to be exposed to advertising for unhealthy food products. Even when access to food is improved, healthy foods tend to cost more.
Program Areas
Food Security Resources in Mecklenburg County
If you are in need of food, please use the list of resources below. These are a few examples of organizations in Mecklenburg County providing food assistance to those who need it. While this is not a comprehensive list of all food assistance programs in the county, they provide resources to additional food outlets across Mecklenburg County.
Resources for Partners: Food Security Data
Access food security data by demographic factors through the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), Community Health Assessment, Food Nutrition Services local prevalence data on SNAP and Medicaid and Feeding America databases. The Mecklenburg County Public Health Epidemiology Division also has great tools for data visualization and portals.