Understanding Food Deserts and Food Swamps: Impact on Marginalized Communities, the Challenges and Solutions to Food Insecurity
Introduction
In recent years, the terms “food deserts” and “food swamps” have emerged in discussions about food insecurity and public health. These concepts highlight the challenges many communities face in accessing nutritious food. However, while both terms describe areas with problematic food environments, they represent different issues. This blog post aims to elucidate the differences between food deserts and food swamps, explore their impact on marginalized communities, and propose steps to mitigate these issues.
In recent years, there have been many discussions on the various strategies to improve nutrition and wellness in America. Currently, we sit as the number 13th nation in the world when it comes to obesity numbers (World Health Organization, 2022). Much of the conversation has been mired in the effort of why we are a nation that is getting increasingly unhealthier each day. Many people will turn to a zealot-like belief in a particular food group or nutrient being solely responsible, and a particular dietary protocol is the ‘one true way’ to a healthier world. I think conversations like these unfortunately miss the mark and fail to address the fundamental causes of obesity, which is largely created by growth of food deserts.
What are Food Deserts?
Food deserts are areas where residents have limited access to affordable and nutritious food. These areas are often characterized by a significant number of residents living more than one mile from a grocery store or supermarket in urban areas, and more than 10 miles in rural areas (Congressional Research Service, 2021). As a result, residents might only have access to convenience stores and fast-food restaurants, which typically offer limited healthy options. Food deserts are often found in urban areas, where enterprises have abandoned the location in favor for suburban populations. In addition, large companies (ex. Wal-Mart) can come into an area, and because they are so large, can systematically force local smaller-chain grocery stores to close because they cannot simply keep up with the low costs that a mega-corporation like Wal-Mart can provide. Unfortunately, companies like Wal-Mart can be just as problematic if they decide to not come into a community as well. For example, back in 2012, an economic plan to bring Wal-Mart happened in Rock Island. According to news articles, the site was 52 acres, had plans to bring in 1.8 million in taxes and bring in 400 new jobs to the area (Coffey, 2016). Contracts had apparently been signed before the project fizzled out and Wal-Mart pulled out 4 years later. As of writing this, roughly $15 million-$20 million has been spent (Coffey, 2024) and nothing has replaced the failed superstore project and the entire area on 11th St. sits barren as a reminder that large-scale businesses can depress local communities through both action and inaction.
The result is the same-a food desert is created. Black communities and communities with high-than-average Black populations often have higher occurrences of food deserts. It is estimated that one out of every 5 Black households exist in a food desert (Chui et al., 2021). To illuminate this differently, 31 percent of white people in America live near an area with access to a supermarket, compared to just 8 percent of Black Americans. I’m sure that if you just took a second, you could easily identify areas in our own community that highlight these disparities. These are places that not only have no access to fresh produce, but also low access to transportation. As the USDA claims, possibly the best measure to assess limited access is the lack of transportation. Roughly 2.3 million households in the entire U.S. live more than a mile from a grocery store and have no access to a car (US Department of Agriculture, 2025). These shocking stats unfortunately highlight the dangerous situation that too much of our population group finds themselves in.
Characteristics of Food Swamps
Some communities, however, share characteristics of food deserts with a few notable exceptions. These communities still don’t have grocery stores, but they are inundated with convenience stores, fast-food chains, and other places offering high-calorie, nutrient poor foods. These areas are referred to as food swamps. Food swamps are unique because these often offer fresh food in the local stores, however, the fresh food is often either limited, more expensive then at a regular grocery store, or they are deep in the store surrounded by number hyper palatable, unhealthy foods. This illusion of healthy choices is probably the most problematic issue regarding food swamps. In addition, there always seems to be some sort of promotion or discount on unhealthy foods in these areas, further driving down the purchase of any healthy option.
America has seen both a growing amount of food deserts and food swamps, and correlation between a lack of access to fresh food mixed with a growing increase in cheap, hyperpalatable food and obesity rates couldn’t be more glaring. In fact, the list of negative health effects of living in one of these areas does not stop there. Communities impacted by food deserts and swamps tend to have higher poverty rates, lower education, and lower access to health care (Carlson & Keith-Jennings, 2018). Nutrient deficiencies can also be more prevalent in these areas (Gundersen & Ziliak, 2015) which can lead to increased health problems. In addition, we see a higher level of other chronic diseases, such as diabetes or hypertension (Odoms-Young et. al, 2024). A growing population has pushed for ideas like the Paleo diet or switching to organic foods as methods of improving our health. The problem with these ideas is they are much more expensive than the foods you would find at a convenience store (Seguin et. al, 2014). According to the ver Ploeg et al. (2009), milk (5% higher), bread (10% higher) and cereal (25% higher) were items low-income persons with a limited access to fresh food paid more for than higher income communities. More affluent communities end up with greater access as well as more opportunities for increased access than low-income communities. Convenience stores are supposed to be more cost effective and still offer nutritious foods only to have limited options often at a higher price, and nutritional alternatives such as grass-fed beef or dietary lifestyles end up cost far more and are still found in areas that are inaccessible to the intended consumer. As a result, convenience stores create an additional problem (higher costs on nutritious foods) instead of being a solution to the original issue (food access).
Solutions to Food Deserts and Food Swamps
As it stands, our current method of approach has only led to less access and more nutritional-related deficiencies in lower-income households. So, what can be done? For starters, we as a community could ramp up the strategy of community gardens, farmer’s markets, and nutrition education. Efforts are already happening on these fronts, but more should be considered to increase not only the scope of these ideas but also the synergy between them. Nutrition education is particularly important, as it can breed a more conscientious shopper that is actively searching for healthy food options in places that are designed to sell unhealthy options at a higher amount. Government programs like SNAP-ed provide resources to bridge this gap, and an offshoot of this program is Double Up Food Bucks. This program matches SNAP/EBT benefits dollar-for-dollar when spent on fresh fruits and vegetables at participating markets and grocery stores (Steele-Adjognon & Weatherspoon, 2017). It helps low-income families access healthier food while supporting local farmers and economies. It’s incumbent upon us as citizens of America to continue to increase not only awareness but champion policies that will decrease food insecurity (Gundersen and Ziliak, 2015). The SNAP program has been shown to be an important option for reducing health outcomes, so you can reach out to your local politicians about increasing funding for this program. Government solutions don’t stop there, as you can advocate for your local governments to provide subsidies to stores that provide fresh produce and/or healthier snacks. Policymakers can enact laws that create tax breaks or other awards for creating a larger footprint in their stores for healthier foods as well. We can also help create initiatives that partner these stores with local producers to bring their locally sourced food into food deserts and swamps at potentially lower costs. Lastly, we can also work harder with local restaurants and grocery stores to surplus of produce to these areas, and to have them invest time and resources into local health programs and initiatives.
Conclusion
Food deserts and food swamps contribute significantly to negative health outcomes, particularly in low-income communities. These issues are not confined to distant locations but have widespread regional and local impacts. Large companies have prioritized suburban markets, leaving both inner cities and rural areas with limited access to fresh, nutritious food. However, this is not just a problem for certain groups- chronic diseases linked to poor nutrition drive up healthcare costs for everyone, and a lack of proper nutrition affects childhood development and academic performance, ultimately weakening the future workforce.
Addressing this crisis requires collective action. Our communities must take the lead by organizing, partnering, and working with city officials to expand access to healthy food. Through community engagement, policy changes, and collaboration across sectors, we can build a more equitable food system that fosters health and prosperity for all.
References:
Carlson, S. & Keith-Jennings, B. (2018). SNAP Is Linked with Improved Nutritional Outcomes and Lower Health Care Costs. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. https://www.cbpp.org/research/snap-is-linked-with-improved-nutritional-outcomes-and-lower-health-care-costs
Chui, M., Gregg, B., Kohli, S., & Stewart III, S. (2021, August 6). A $300 billion opportunity: Serving the emerging Black American consumer. McKinsey & Company. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/a-300-billion-dollar-opportunity-serving-the-emerging-black-american-consumer
Coffey, D. (2016, September 6). Rock Island city leaders look for new retail options after Walmart drops out of development plans. WQAD. Retrieved from https://www.wqad.com/article/news/local/drone/8-in-the-air/rock-island-city-leaders-look-for-new-retail-options-after-walmart-drops-out-of-development-plans/526-e37f3da7-4432-4508-8b1a-1c5f660ece2a
Coffey, D. (2024, December 30). Rock Island’s vacant Watch Tower Plaza may be home to new sports facility, mayor says. WQAD. Retrieved from https://www.wqad.com/article/news/local/rock-island-watch-tower-plaza-city-plans/526-26d14fa6-d634-4b64-bcc0-53d97e047520
Congressional Research Service. (2021). Food deserts: Access to affordable and nutritious food. Retrieved from https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11841
Gundersen, C., & Ziliak, J. P. (2015). Food Insecurity And Health Outcomes. Health affairs (Project Hope), 34(11), 1830–1839. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0645
Odoms-Young, A., Brown, A. G. M., Agurs-Collins, T., & Glanz, K. (2024). Food Insecurity, Neighborhood Food Environment, and Health Disparities: State of the Science, Research Gaps and Opportunities. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 119(3), 850–861. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.12.019
Seguin, R., Connor, L., Nelson, M., LaCroix, A., & Eldridge, G. (2014). Understanding barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and active living in rural communities. Journal of nutrition and metabolism, 2014, 146502. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/146502
Steele-Adjognon, M., & Weatherspoon, D. (2017). Double Up Food Bucks program effects on SNAP recipients’ fruit and vegetable purchases. BMC public health, 17(1), 946. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4942-z
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service (2025). Food access research atlas-documentation. Retrieved from https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/documentation
Ver Ploeg, M., Breneman, V., Farrigan, T., Hamrick, K., Hopkins, D., Kaufman, P., Lin, B. H., Nord, M., Smith, T. A., Williams, R., Kinnison, K., Olander, C., Singh, A., & Tuckermanty, E. (2009). Access to affordable and nutritious food: Measuring and understanding food deserts and their consequences (Administrative Publication No. AP-036). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. Retrieved from https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/42711/12716_ap036_1_.pdf
World Health Organization. (2022). List of countries by obesity rate. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_obesity_rate