Work

The Relationship between the School Breakfast Program and Food Insecurity

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: Food insecurity rates have risen significantly in the United States beginning with the recent recession and remained high. The implications of these high rates are severe in that food insecurity has been associated with a wide range of health, behavioral, social and cognitive difficulties. This paper examines the relationship between the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and food insecurity outcomes. The SBP has the potential to reduce food insecurity because of the direct provision of breakfast to students and the implied income transfer to households. We use state-level cutoffs tied to school-level poverty rates that mandate the provision of the SBP to compare the food security outcomes of students in similar schools, but with different requirements to provide breakfast. Our estimates suggest that state policies requiring schools to offer the SBP have reduced food insecurity for young children.

Source: Journal of Consumer Affairs

DOI: 10.1111/joca.12163

Authors: Jason M. Fletcher, David E. Frisvold

Institutions: University of Wisconsin System, University of Iowa

Language: English

Topic: Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, No poverty, Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

Funders: Institute for Research on Poverty, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development