Exploring Nutritional Equity In Food Bank Supply Chains

Food insecurity, defined as insufficient access to food for a healthy and active life, affected approximately 12.8% of U.S. households in 2022. A concerted effort from both the government and non-government organizations is underway to address this challenge in the United States. This study centers on the Foodbank of Central and Eastern North Carolina (FBCENC), a nonprofit hunger relief organization pivotal in collecting and distributing food donations to local agencies serving individuals in need. However, despite the critical role of food banks, nutritional considerations are often overlooked. To address this gap, the study employs the Healthy Eating Research (HER) Nutrition Guideline, categorizing nutrition types (Red, Yellow, and Green) to assess and enhance the nutritional equity of the current distribution system. A linear programming model is proposed, and equity is adopted as the performance measure. The study aims to develop a model that strategically reduces nutritional disparities across the network. By incorporating HER guidelines and emphasizing equity in distribution, this research contributes to the broader objective of creating a more nutritionally equitable response to food insecurity within the non-profit sector.