Planning for Food Access During Emergencies: Missed Meals in Philadelphia

Abstract

Objectives. To illustrate the effects that minor social or environmental disruptions could have on the food access of low-income households in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and provide suggestions for how cities can better incorporate food into emergency planning. Methods. Using publicly available data and stakeholder interviews (n = 8) in 2017, we projected the number of meals that would be missed during environmental and social disruptions in Philadelphia, a major US city with a high poverty rate. Results. As our projections in Philadelphia indicate, even just 3 days of school closures could result in as many as 405 600 missed meals for school-aged children. Conclusions. These scenarios provide valuable lessons for other cities to proactively plan for food access continuity in times of uncertainty. Public Health Implications. City planners and other city agencies need to include food as a routine part of emergency planning and redefine the threshold at which emergency response protocols are triggered to better ensure protection of low-income and underserved populations.

SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and paediatric endocrine disorders: Risks and management considerations

“…The shutting down of schools, camps and extracurricular sports and activities due to the pandemic has already had a profound impact on the health of children and adolescents due to social isolation, lack of activity and food insecurity in socioeconomically disadvantaged households 75,76 . In one of our centres, we have observed a significant increase in children under 19 years of age presenting with new‐onset diabetes, with most of the increase in new cases accounted for by an increase in type 2 diabetes (RM; unpublished data).…”

The intersection of COVID‐19, school, and headaches: Problems and solutions

“…This has led to a 130% increase in food insecurity in households with children ≤18 years old from 2018 to 2020 22 . Food insecurity can increase further when children cannot receive free or subsidized meals at school 22–25 . Food insecurity has been linked to risk of weight gain and obesity, 22–25 and will be compounded by decreased physical activity and increased screen time 24,26–29 .…”

COVID‐19–Related School Closings and Risk of Weight Gain Among Children

“…Annually, more than 30 million children receive free or subsidized school lunches, and among eligible households, food insecurity rates are higher in the summer months (6). Our projections in Philadelphia demonstrate that just 3 days of school closures could result in more than 405,000 missed meals among school‐aged children (7). Food insecurity has been linked to risk of obesity and weight gain, and although many communities are implementing innovative means to continue school lunches, we expect food insecurity to increase for children during the pandemic (8).…”