Food insecurity is defined as which of the following?

• A. Limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways
• B. A surplus of food
• C. A lack of interest in healthy foods
• D. Access to farm markets

Answer: (A)

Food insecurity centers on whether people can get enough nutritious, safe food reliably and in a way that fits social expectations. It means there is limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways. This captures both the actual food supply and the means to obtain food, including affordability and stability over time. In practice, it reflects barriers to access rather than a lack of desire for healthy foods, and it highlights how instability in food access can impact health, especially in older adults who may already face fixed incomes or mobility challenges.

The other ideas don’t fit the definition. A surplus of food describes abundance, not insecurity. A lack of interest in healthy foods is about personal preference, not access or affordability. Having access to farm markets could help reduce insecurity, but it is not the definition itself.