Food insecurity is a lack of consistent access to food for a healthy life. Food insecurity is more than just basic hunger. Hunger is a physical sensation of discomfort, but food insecurity is a lack of accessibility and affordability of food for a household. Food deserts, food waste, and economic crises all contribute to rising food insecurity rates.

Research into food insecurity highlights that many people do not have financial resources to meet their basic needs, affecting their physical, mental, and emotional health. Although there is a link between food insecurity and poverty, exacerbating factors such as economic crises, natural disasters or even the pandemic may cause people who are normally food secure to suddenly be at risk.

Food insecurity is not a mutually exclusive phenomenon. Families struggling with food insecurity are often affected by multiple overlapping issues including the lack of affordable housing, social isolation, chronic or acute health problems, medical bills, and low wages.