Food insecurity: Consequences for the household and broader social implications

A conceptual framework showing the household and social implications of foo d insecurity was elicited from a qualitative and quantitative study of 98 h ouseholds from a heterogeneous low income population of Quebec city and rur al surroundings; the study was designed to increase understanding of the ex perience of food insecurity in order to contribute to its prevention. Accor ding to the respondents' description, the experience of food insecurity is characterized by two categories of manifestations, i.e., the core character istics of the phenomenon and a related set of actions and reactions by the household. This second category of manifestations is considered here as a f irst level of consequences of food insecurity. These consequences at the ho usehold level often interact with the larger environment to which the house hold belongs. On a chronic basis, the resulting interactions have certain i mplications that are tentatively labeled "social implications" in this pape r. Their examination suggests that important aspects of human development d epend on food security. It also raises questions concerning the nature of s ocially acceptable practices of food acquisition and food management, and h ow such acceptability can be assessed. Guidelines to that effect are propos ed. Findings underline the relevance and urgency of working toward the real ization of the right to food.