Q. What is World Food Day (WFD)?
A. The aim of the World Food Day is to heighten public awareness of the world food problem and strengthen solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty. WFD was proclaimed in 1979 by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It marks the date of the founding of FAO in 1945. In 1980, the General Assembly endorsed observance of the Day in consideration of the fact that "food is a requisite for human survival and well-being and a fundamental human necessity" (resolution 35/70 of 5 December 1980).
WFD theme for 2008; World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy
Q. What is Community Food Security?
A. The United Nations defines Food Security as; Food security exists when all people, at all times, have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. To learn more about the work of the UN food program visit www.wfp.org
The United State Department of Agriculture defines food security as; Food security for a household means access by all members at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food security includes at a minimum (1) the ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, and (2) an assured ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways (that is, without resorting to emergency food supplies, scavenging, stealing, or other coping strategies). To learn more about the USDA and the role they play in food security visit www.usda.gov
The Community Food Security Coalition, Community food security is a condition in which all community residents obtain a safe, culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes community self-reliance and social
"1 in 7 Utah Households Struggle to Afford Enough Food"
Q. What is Food Insecurity
A. Households who rely on socially unacceptable ways to meet their nutrition needs are considered food insecure, households often have to resort to accessing emergency food pantries, scavenging, stealing, or other coping strategies.
Poverty
- 9.7% of residents in Utah live in poverty.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 5.1 percent of Utahns deal with hunger and 14.5 percent are food insecure. During the past year: the price of cheese has increased by 14.7 percent, the price of eggs increased by 23.2 percent, and bread prices increased by 15.9 percent.
Federal Nutrition Programs
- Only 60% of eligible households participate in the Food Stamp Program.
- Food stamps provide a modest $1per person per meal
- The average food stamp allotment for a household
- One in 3 kids in Utah receive school meals at free or reduced price.
- In July 2008 57,642 households received benefits from the Food Stamp Program
Q. What is the purpose of Salt Lake City Everybody Eats Day
A. To create an opportunity for those in the local food industry to give back and create awareness about Food Security, Food Availability and Actions you can take to help end hunger in Salt Lake City.
Q. How did this start in Salt Lake City, Utah?
A. Denise Cerreta, founder of One World Everybody Eats had the idea of local restaurants joining together on World Food Day to offer meals that could be ordered in reduced portion sizes that the patrons could price themselves, similar to what is offered daily at OWEE community kitchens.
Her hope is to raise awareness of Food Security locally with the intention of this model being replicated in other cities around the world. "Imagine if we created a day worldwide where everybody could eat. Wouldn't we want that every day"?
Q. How are the charities selected for WFD?
A. The organizing sponsors have compiled a list of food related Non Profit Organizations that are here in Salt Lake City. This list is only an aid to participating restaurants who are encouraged to support local organizations of their choice.
