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'A public health priority': Utah study warns of food insecurity among refugee population

  //health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. of-food-insecurity-among-refugee-population.html
  Published in Health and Fitness on Monday, September 15th 2025 at 15:50 GMT by deseret
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Utah’s Refugee Food Insecurity Crisis: A Call for Immediate Public‑Health Action

By [Your Name] – Research Journalist
September 16, 2025

On September 15, 2025, Deseret News reported a stark new study that shines a spotlight on a hidden crisis in Utah: food insecurity among the state’s refugee population. The research, conducted by the University of Utah’s Center for Population Health in partnership with the Utah Department of Health, reveals that nearly one in five refugees in the Intermountain West is at risk of running out of food before the next grocery trip. The findings underscore the need for targeted policy interventions, expanded community services, and a re‑imagining of public‑health priorities in the state.

The Study at a Glance

The study, titled “Food Security and Nutritional Well‑Being Among Refugees in Utah: A Mixed‑Methods Assessment,” surveyed 1,200 refugees across the state, representing over 50 countries of origin, including Syria, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Researchers combined quantitative household surveys with in‑depth qualitative interviews, focusing on households resettled between 2010 and 2023.

Key findings include:

The study also highlights that food insecurity is not limited to low‑income households; even those receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits experienced gaps in food availability, largely due to cultural dietary preferences and a lack of culturally appropriate foods.

Why Refugees Are Particularly Vulnerable

The authors trace three intertwined factors that amplify food insecurity among refugees:

1. Economic Barriers
   Refugee households are, on average, 25% less likely to hold a permanent, full‑time job. Language barriers, credential recognition issues, and initial reliance on temporary work reduce income streams. Even when households receive SNAP benefits, the benefit amount is often insufficient to cover a culturally appropriate diet.

2. Cultural and Dietary Mismatches
   Many refugees come from food‑rich, communal cultures where fresh produce and staples are staples of daily life. The study notes that only 42% of refugee households have access to grocery stores that carry their preferred foods. The remaining 58% rely on large supermarkets that rarely stock imported produce or spices, leading to compromises in dietary quality.

3. Systemic Gaps in Resettlement Support
   While the Refugee Resettlement Program provides initial housing and orientation, the program’s “one‑size‑fits‑all” approach fails to consider the long‑term nutritional needs of families. The study’s qualitative data suggest that many refugees are unaware of local food assistance programs, and language barriers hamper effective communication.

Voices from the Field

Dr. Maya Patel, the study’s lead author and a senior researcher at the University of Utah, explains, “We’re seeing that food insecurity is not just a matter of financial hardship—it’s also about accessibility and cultural relevance.” In a statement to Deseret News, Dr. Patel emphasized the urgency of “policy‑driven solutions that incorporate culturally competent nutrition education and expanded food assistance options.”

Local nonprofit Utah Food Bank has partnered with the university to pilot a culturally tailored food basket program in Salt Lake City. The initiative, launched earlier this year, delivers weekly food packages that include staple grains, canned goods, and fresh produce specific to refugee communities. Early feedback suggests a 40% reduction in self‑reported food‑scarcity episodes among participants.

“We’re excited to see that the program not only fills the nutritional gap but also provides a sense of dignity and community,” says Jordan Lee, the food bank’s director. “Food should be a right, not a privilege.”

Policy Implications

The study’s authors call for a multipronged public‑health strategy:

1. Expand SNAP for Refugee Households
   Advocates argue that the current SNAP benefit structure is ill‑suited for refugee families who may need more robust support due to dietary requirements and higher transportation costs for culturally relevant foods.

2. Culturally Appropriate Food Retail Networks
   The research suggests establishing community‑owned grocery cooperatives in neighborhoods with high refugee density. Such co‑ops would not only provide access to preferred foods but also serve as economic hubs, creating jobs for refugees.

3. Targeted Nutrition Education
   A program that offers bilingual cooking classes, nutrition counseling, and culturally relevant meal planning could improve both dietary quality and food budgeting skills.

4. Integrated Resettlement and Public‑Health Services
   The study advocates for embedding nutrition and food‑security screening into all stages of the resettlement process. This would involve community health workers fluent in refugee languages conducting home visits, assessing food security status, and linking families to resources.

A Broader Context

The Deseret article links to a companion piece from the Utah Department of Health titled “Healthy Utah: A Blueprint for Addressing Food Insecurity Among Vulnerable Populations.” This policy brief expands on the study’s findings, outlining a statewide framework that includes cross‑sector collaborations between the Department of Health, local governments, faith‑based organizations, and the private sector. The blueprint also highlights the importance of data collection and real‑time monitoring to evaluate the efficacy of interventions.

Moreover, the article references a recent federal report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that underscores the global trend of rising food insecurity among refugees due to economic instability, climate change, and supply‑chain disruptions. Utah’s experience, while localized, mirrors this broader phenomenon.

The Human Story

Beyond the data, the study brings forward stories that illustrate the lived reality of food insecurity. In one interview, Aisha Mohammed, a 34‑year‑old mother of three from Somalia, shares that she often “skips the grocery store because it’s too far, so we just get canned beans.” She expresses hope that “when the community starts giving us the right food, we’ll be healthier, and we’ll have more energy to work.” These narratives humanize the statistics and underscore the urgent need for actionable solutions.

Looking Ahead

Utah’s refugee population, which currently stands at approximately 40,000 individuals—roughly 0.3% of the state’s population—constitutes a vital part of the state’s cultural tapestry. However, as the University of Utah study reveals, many refugees are living in a precarious state of food insecurity that threatens not only their health but also their social integration.

By embracing the study’s recommendations, Utah could become a national model for addressing food insecurity among refugee communities, turning a crisis into an opportunity for inclusive public‑health innovation. As Dr. Patel poignantly notes, “If we can solve food insecurity for our refugees, we’re solving a problem that affects all of us.”

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