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The Health of Those Who Feed Us: An Assessment of Health Inequities Along the United States Food Chain

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: While the health of all depends on the food chain, few studies have focused systematically on the health of food chain workers themselves (production, manufacturing, wholesale, retail, and commercial and institutional services). In this study we used 2018 and 2019 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to examine health-related metrics of food chain workers, combined and by industry sector, compared to non-food chain workers, among 32 U.S. states. Logistic regression indicated U.S. food chain workers had higher prevalences of barriers to health care access, smoking, no physical exercise, and poor self-reported health than all other workers. Patterns were similar among food chain workers in all industry sectors except wholesale. Additionally, commercial food services workers had higher prevalence of poor mental health, while institutional food services workers had higher prevalences of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension than all other workers. We discuss implications of these results for interventions, with specific attention to improving employment conditions. Food chain worker health is critical for food system sustainability and population health equity.

Source: International Journal of Social Determinants of Health and Health Services

DOI: 10.1177/27551938241285109

Authors: Emilia F. Vignola, Jia Li, Sharon R. Silver, Sherry Baron

Institutions: University of Washington, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Queens College, CUNY

Language: English

Topic: Workplace Health and Well-being

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities, Decent work and economic growth, Zero hunger

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institutes of Health