what is food insecurity

Food insecurity is a condition characterized by limited or uncertain access to adequate and nutritious food. It can manifest as reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet, and in more severe cases, as a lack of resources to obtain food, leading to hunger and malnutrition. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), food insecurity is divided into two levels of severity: low food security, which involves reports of reduced diet quality, and very low food security, which is characterized by disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake. Food insecurity is a household-level economic and social condition that can have significant impacts on health and well-being