The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Consumption and Consumer Studies

Food Deserts

ALEXANDRA RODNEY

University of Toronto, Canada

DOI: 10.1002/9781118989463.wbeccs123

A “food desert” is a disadvantaged urban or rural geographic area in which residents have restricted access to healthy, affordable, fresh food from a supermarket. Food deserts may be served only by fringe retailers (e.g., convenience stores) with higher prices and a scarcity of nutritious food. Research into the existence and health implications of food deserts began in the 1990s following a report produced by the Department of Health in London (Beaulac, Kristjansson, and Cummins 2009). Food deserts are an important public health issue because they contribute to social disparities in health outcomes. People generally shop at outlets closest to them and the foods most readily available in food deserts are increasingly fast-food options. These are high in sugar, fat, and calories, putting residents living in food deserts at greater risk for obesity and chronic diseases. In contrast, larger stores such as supermarkets generally offer healthier choices and lower overall prices. Residents in areas with supermarkets are more likely to purchase fruit and vegetables.

Compelling evidence shows that food deserts exist in the United States, while the existence of food deserts in the United Kingdom and Canada is highly debated (Beaulac, Kristjansson, and Cummins 2009). More than 23 million Americans live in food deserts, with 75 percent of these in urban areas (ERS 2009). In order to qualify as ...