In the News
The pandemic is supposed to be over. Why is Pierce County food insecurity still so high?
February 23, 2023 | The News Tribune
Story highlights WAFOOD research published in 2023 which finds almost half of responding households reported experiencing food insecurity in the past month — with the highest occurrences among BIPOC respondents, households with children and renters. Meanwhile, the overall reliance on food assistance programs and food banks remained high.
Read articleSNAP cuts lead to warning of “hunger cliff”
February 27, 2023 | AXIOS Seattle
Story highlighting how pandemic food aid is ending nationwide, and this change in the federal law means more than half a million households in Washington will lose a total of about $95 million a month in food assistance even as food and fuel costs remain high or increase. Data cited in the article was recently published by the UW & WSU WAFOOD survey.
Read articleFood insecurity persists in WA, just as emergency benefits expire
February 28, 2023 | Seattle Times
Story provides insight into the region’s looming hunger relief problems citing new data from the UW & WSU WAFOOD survey, and the concern that pandemic-era meal assistance benefits run out this week.
Read articleHow to Get Connected And Fight Food Insecurity
December 8, 2022 | Seattle Medium
Marie Spiker is quoted in this article which highlights ways to help fight food insecurity in the Greater Seattle area in a meaningful way during the holiday season. Spiker says, “It’s not just about ‘not having food’ — people may find themselves skipping meals, reducing the size of their meals or choosing non-preferred foods for financial reasons.”
Read articleWhat’s to blame for Americans’ obesity problem? Start with the system.
July 26, 2022 | USA Today
“Obesity can vary by 600% depending on a person’s address,” said Dr. Adam Drewnowski who contributes to this USA Today article discussing the multifactorial issues contributing to the American obesity epidemic.
Read articleSweetened beverage taxes produce net economic benefits for lower-income communities
July 8, 2022 | UW News
New study from University of Washington Center for Public Health Nutrition examines the economic equity impacts of sweetened beverage taxes in three cities: Seattle, San Francisco and Philadelphia. Jessica Jones-Smith was co-prinicipal investigator and Lina Pinero Walkinshaw was a co-author on the study.
Read articlePandemic disrupts food access for tribal communities
January 24, 2022 | DEOHS Blog
DEOHS Blog highlights how tribal communities in Washington state experienced food insecurity during the pandemic, according to according to a new report by researchers at the Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center (NWTEC), a division of the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, the University of Washington and Tacoma Community College.
Read articleSurvey shows disproportionate food insecurities in Washington tribal communities
January 20, 2022 | UW Population Health
Highlights findings from a recent study, WATRIBAL, which shows the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food disparities and food sovereignty among American Indian/Alaska Native communities in Washington State.
Read articleResiliency of food systems during COVID-19
January 10, 2022 | KOMO Radio
A UW study focuses on the adaptations made to keep food systems going during the pandemic. It found a third of farmers formed new working relationships while coping with supply chain failures, worker shortages and more.
Read articleNew Evidence Suggests That Seattle’s Soda Tax Is Working — and It’s Working Well
January 11, 2022 | The Patch
A study in Baltimore which uses grocery store sales data bolsters early evidence published by UW Center for Public Health Nutrition, supporting the that the Seattle soda tax is working. Jessica Jones-Smith, lead researcher involved in the UW research is quoted.
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