Is "food insecurity" a real thing?

Or a government myth?

I’ve enjoyed John Stossel’s work as a reporter and libertarian commentator for many years now, and his recent video and column on food insecurity are no exception.

Is “food insecurity” a problem in the United States?

Stossel points out that everyone from President Biden to ABC hosts to Michelle Obama has warned about the seriousness of food insecurity in America.

He interviews Rachel Sheffield, who researches welfare policy at the Heritage Foundation, who explains, “Food insecurity is not the same thing as hunger. It just means that they had to rely on cheaper foods, store-brand alternatives … or reduce variety.”

Sheffield lays out the odd argument that although obesity is the bigger problem, the government is hyping food insecurity. She cites the fine print by the USDA, which admits that “for most food-insecure households, the inadequacies were in the form of reduced quality and variety of food rather than insufficient quantity.”

When Stossel observes that government workers always want to create a crisis, Sheffield explains that “Government programs want to keep themselves going.” Those programs are in trouble if they actually solve the problems they say they’re fighting. People would work themselves out of a job, so they have to pivot.

“Americans consume too many calories,” says Sheffield. “Food insecure” adults are more likely to be obese.

When that became obvious, activists promoted a new myth: Poor people are overweight because they live in “food deserts,” neighborhoods where healthy foods are much less available. Michelle Obama talked about that a lot. She claimed some poor people had to take three busses to buy healthy food.”

Stossel says government officials intentionally ignored smaller stores that sold fruits and veggies, only counting stores with more than $2 million in sales. There may not be large supermarkets in some areas, but there are often smaller businesses selling produce that aren’t being counted.

Stossel notes that expanding welfare and corresponding programs seems to be the government’s goal, rather than helping people to thrive independently.

The U.S. has spent more on the War on Poverty – $23 trillion – than on all the military wars the U.S. has engaged in since the Revolutionary War. The handouts make politicians look good, and they keep people relying on government programs. And for those in positions of power, this is considered a success.

Stossel does some great work, mainly on YouTube, which you can check out here.

—Ken