Abstract
In common narratives of emergency food assistance, donors likely believe their efforts directly manifest as people consuming their donated food. For example, a person donating canned lima beans during a canned food drive may visualise someone eventually eating those lima beans. However, cultural and socio-economic barriers often exist that prevent people from accessing and consuming the donated food. These barriers are often complex and otherwise well-intentioned donors, volunteers and organisations may not initially consider them. This commentary article, which draws from existing US emergency food systems literature, uses the imagery of an acorn squash one might find at a US food pantry to conceptualise these barriers in a straightforward way. Examining emergency food assistance through the lens of the acorn squash problem can help donors, volunteers and organisations better connect with food-insecure people. The lens of the acorn squash problem also allows for deeper critiques of some practices of emergency food systems.
Highlights
In common narratives of emergency food assistance, donors likely believe their efforts directly manifest as people consuming their donated food
02 Nov 2021 at 10:28:28, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use. Commentary, we propose these barriers be conceptualised as the, ‘acorn squash problem’ as a way to simplify these barriers for donors, volunteers and emergency food agency staff
Based on an analysis of existing US emergency food systems literature, we propose the following eight barriers that confront individuals seeking emergency food assistance during the food selection process at a food pantry, or when they unpack a food aid box at home
Summary
Consumers utilising a food pantry must recognise an item on display as food. The recognition is deeply embedded in a person’s culinary heritage; and any otherwise edible foods outside of a person’s culinary heritage are likely to be rejected[12,13,14]. Strong negative association to one type of food, such as a view that insects are vectors for disease, may lead a person to reject that object as food[13]. Within the context of acorn squash, some Americans may view it solely as a decorative item used during the fall season, and not as food
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