Food insecurity is deeply intertwined with health and economic disparities, as an underlying factor in risk for COVID-19 and as an effect of the economic crisis the pandemic has triggered. Pre-existing health inequities and an increased risk of job loss or loss of income mean that Black, Latinx, and Indigenous people, as well as other people of color, have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, further compounding inequities that existed long before the pandemic began.

Beyond the immediate need to effectively acknowledge and address these inequities in light of COVID-19, the underlying systems that created and perpetuate them must be reimagined. Communities need new laws, policies, and institutional practices that directly target structural discrimination, income inequality, and other fundamental drivers of food insecurity and health inequity.

In response to this public health crisis, federal, state, local, and tribal institutions are identifying quick solutions that clear legal and political hurdles to get help and resources to those who most need them, creating a roadmap for building a more resilient and just food system for the long term. Creating long-term stability and justice in the food system means going beyond food access and nutrition to stable employment, income supports, and community health. The intersection and coordination of health systems and food systems are at the core of these efforts and represent a promising space for sustainable, long-term change.