22. Hunger and Famine

Hunger & Famine

  • Introduction to the section on "Ideas of Nutrition"

    • Focus on how diet influences health positively and negatively.

    • Discusses the scientific evidence related to diet and food systems.

    • Hunger addressed both as a physiological response and a social problem.

    • Importance of food system failure consequences.

  • Famine Historically

    • Famine is an ancient issue, prevalent since the beginning of civilization.

    • Recent improvements in food distribution have partially mitigated famine.

    • Example reference: "The Dunes" song about the Irish Potato Famine (Great Hunger) focusing on themes of famine foods, societal suffering, and trade.

Key Terms

  • Satiety

  • Hunger

  • Food Security

  • Starvation

  • Famine

Hunger vs. Satiety

  • Body’s mechanisms to sense hunger

    • Gut and nutrient levels in blood stimulate behavioral hormones.

    • Hormones trigger either eating or cessation of eating.

    • Role of psychological factors in hunger (e.g., food thoughts).

Hunger vs. Food Insecurity

  • Hunger: Individual physiological state against food access.

  • Food Insecurity: Household-level assessment of economics and social conditions.

    • High Food Security: No reported issues with food access.

    • Marginal Food Security: Some anxiety about food sufficiency, but little dietary change.

    • Low Food Security: Reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet.

    • Very Low Food Security: Disrupted eating patterns and reduced intake.

  • Example query: Concern about food running out before money arrives.

Food Security Status (2021) in the U.S.

  • Food-insecure households: 10.2%

    • Low food security: 6.4%

    • Very low food security: 3.8% (34 million people affected)

  • Food-secure households: 89.8%

  • Data source: USDA, 2021 Current Population Survey.

Food Security Behavior Comparison (2016)

  • Behaviors Reported by Food Security Level:

    • Worried about food running out

    • Inability to afford balanced meals

    • Skipped meals or reduced meal sizes

    • Experienced hunger without eating

Economic Context

  • U.S. poverty threshold for family of 4: $31,843

  • Median family income for Penn State student: $101,800

PSU Food & Housing Needs Survey 2021

  • 24.1% of students reported trouble securing food in the last 30 days.

  • About half of those students reduced food intake.

Biblical Reference on Famine

  • Revelation 6:5-6: Imagery of famine with scarcity and prices of grains.

Definition and Context of Famine

  • Famine as widespread food scarcity leading to malnutrition and mortality.

  • Associated with pestilence, war, and historical agricultural societies.

Causes of Famine

  • Use of destruction as a tactical war strategy (chevauchée) in medieval Europe.

  • Historical quote: "Famine is more terrible than the sword."

Historical Famine Relief Efforts

  • Pre-modern perception of famine as an act of God, with limited government response.

  • Example: Edward II's actions during the Great Famine (1315-17).

Historical Case Study: Bengal Famine

  • 1940s context of widespread poverty and reliance on rice; landownership issues.

    • Transportation issues exacerbated food scarcity.

Effects of World War II on Food Supply (1942)

  • Natural disasters and war-induced supply shortages led to increased demand.

Humanitarian Crisis during 1942-43

  • Migration, starvation, and disease leading to ~3 million deaths, depicted in literature.

Amartya Sen's Contributions

  • Sen's background: Educator and economist, lived academic life across various universities.

  • Key Question: Why did some people starve despite food supply shocks?

  • Key observations on rural poverty and government responses affecting food resources.

Sen on "Entitlements"

  • Food entitlement theory discussing starvation due to individuals’ lack of access.

    • Importance of job, income, and resource access in affecting food security.

Non-entitlement Transfers - Charity

  • Observation: Famines are less prevalent in developed democracies, lesser sustainability when jobs or entitlements fail.

Sen's Assertion on Democracy and Famine

  • Quote: "No famine has ever taken place in the history of the world in a functioning democracy."

Data Representation

  • Graphs and statistics on famine deaths per 100,000 over decades.

Summary of Key Takeaways

  • Hunger and satiety are physiological interactions affecting food desire.

  • Food insecurity encompasses various household circumstances—10% of American families affected.

  • Famine reflects historical and political factors beyond mere supply issues, based on Sen’s analyses.