According to the authors, COVID-19 became "a stress test" for the ability of the US to feed those in need. The COVID-19 pandemic spurred a far-reaching federal policy response that likely mitigated an increase in food insecurity in the aggregate US
population, they write.
However, alarming disparities in food insecurity emerged early in the pandemic and have persisted, with higher rates among Black and Latinx households compared with White and Asian households.
Many of the federal policies passed in response are ending, even though COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the population and the economic recovery is uneven.
"A longer-term extension of many COVID-19 policy supports until the next Farm Bill is adopted would offer stability until discussions can occur around which changes should be made permanent," Caspi and coauthors advocate.
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Today in Health Affairs
Forefront, Sarah Martinelli and coauthors discuss how a permanent national Universal Free Meals program would address food insecurity and improve childhood nutrition and health.
In the fourth and final episode of The Earth Disease, journalist Jared Downing explores the carrots and sticks that the federal government can use to curb climate change.
This episode marks the end of the 2021 Health Affairs podcast fellowship. We'd like to thank all of fellows who have participated in the program, including Sania Ali and Avni Kulkarni, producers of While We Wait, and Lalita Abhyankar, producer of Piecemeal.
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