A combination of factors has led to Black communities paying more for groceries and having less access to nutritious food compared to white neighborhoods. Decades of supermarket redlining, disinvestment, and racially-driven urban planning have put Black consumers in a tighter financial squeeze at grocery stores.
Experts say Black households, on average, pay disproportionately higher prices than whites at the checkout line. They also have fewer options for bargain-hunting in food deserts and less access to fresh, nutritious food. This situation, coupled with high post-pandemic inflation and continued price spikes by food producers, puts Black households at greater risk of food insecurity.
According to Feeding America, food insecurity rates among Black and Latino individuals exceed those of white individuals nationwide. Researchers note that Black households have consistently been twice as likely as white households to experience food insecurity. In 2022, more than 1 in 5 Black families grappled with hunger, compared to around 1 in 10 white households.
Food deserts, areas with limited access to healthy, affordable food, contribute to this disparity. Instead of full-service supermarkets, residents must rely on convenience stores or discount markets that often stock processed foods at inflated prices. This lack of nutritious options contributes to higher rates of diet-related diseases like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, which disproportionately affect Black people.
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating why grocery prices remain high despite declining costs and improved supply chains in the supermarket industry. FTC Chair Lina Kahn stated, “We want to make sure that major businesses are not exploiting their power to inflate prices for American families at the grocery store.”
See “‘Supermarket Redlining’: Why Black Families Pay More for Food” (August 14, 2024)
