Transportation and language access as crucial pillars for an immigrant-inclusive 21st-century food security program

Though food insecurity has long been recognised to impact health, population-specific determinants of food insecurity have recently been studied systematically as an important public health concern. Indeed, while immigrant populations face particular challenges to equitable access to the food system, many of these concerns have not been systematically described. To this end, we critically review recent work that demonstrates the importance of transportation and language access as independent determinants of access to food for immigrant populations. Furthermore, we highlight proposals to mitigate barriers to access, including both academic and community-driven approaches to create overlapping institutional commitments for inclusive policymaking that meets the specific needs of diverse populations.

Automated summary

Food insecurity has long been acknowledged to affect health, and recently population-specific determinants of food insecurity have been systematically studied as an important public health concern. Despite facing unique challenges to equitable access to the food system, immigrant populations have not been extensively described in this context. This article critically reviews recent research that highlights transportation and language access as independent determinants of food access for immigrant populations. It also emphasizes proposals to overcome barriers to access through academic and community-driven approaches that prioritize inclusive policymaking catering to diverse populations.