How states can promote food security as the public health emergency ends
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about federal policies that provided benefits for health, nutrition and food security for many US citizens. As the pandemic recedes, these policies are also coming to an end. Vincent Quan, co-executive director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) North America, emphasises the importance of food security remaining a federal policy priority. In addition to making some pandemic-era policies permanent, Vincent suggests investments in programmes that support local agriculture, increasing access to healthy foods in underserved areas and expanding nutrition education programmes. By taking these steps, he argues, states can help ensure that individuals and families have access to the resources they need to maintain healthy diets.