What’s In A Name? The Future of “Food Desert”

Food insecurity, often framed in terms of “food deserts,” has become a focal point for policymakers and researchers aiming to address disparities in food access. However, the current USDA definition of food deserts, which primarily focuses on geographic proximity to grocery stores, fails to capture the complexities of food availability, affordability, and the racial and economic inequalities that underlie food insecurity. This paper critiques the existing approach and proposes a more comprehensive framework—the Food Nexus Score (FNS)—which integrates multiple dimensions of food insecurity: availability, affordability, quality, and equity. By expanding beyond mere geographic proximity, the FNS considers factors such as the nutritional quality of food, economic barriers to healthy eating, and systemic disparities, providing a more complex and actionable tool for addressing food insecurity. Through the application of the FNS in Detroit, Michigan, this paper demonstrates the framework’s potential to better capture the realities of food insecurity and support targeted, community-driven interventions. In conclusion, the FNS represents a shift from theoretical debates toward practical, systemic solutions that aim to dismantle food insecurity and create more equitable food systems.