Food Waste, Food Insecurity, and the Globalization of Food Banks

Ahead of Thanksgiving, this week’s review presents case studies on the benefits and drawbacks of using food banks to tackle food insecurity and food waste.

Posted on November 25, 2024 in Reviews of the Month

Food Waste, Food Insecurity, and the Globalization of Food Banks

Warshawsky, Daniel N. Iowa, 2024
225p bibl index, 9781609389338 $40.00, 9781609389345 $40.00

Warshawsky (international studies, Wright State Univ.) provides insightful analyses of food banks, their global expansion, and their implications for addressing food insecurity and waste. Drawing on years of extensive fieldwork and research, Warshawsky offers a comprehensive overview of the emergence of food banks as a response to urban poverty, emphasizing the need to differentiate between food insecurity and waste, the importance of government support, and the critical role of corporations in addressing the root causes of food insecurity. Warshawsky explores how COVID-19 exposed the vulnerabilities within the food banking system; banks faced increased demand, supply shortages, and operational challenges due to volunteer shortages. He uses case studies in India and South Africa to highlight the challenges and successes of implementing food banking initiatives in diverse socioeconomic contexts. He also uses examples from Europe, Norway, and Greece to explain the disparities in food bank development and effectiveness across different regions. Warshawsky’s critical reflections and the use of case studies make this book a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding and addressing the challenges of food insecurity and food waste in the 21st century.

Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels.
Reviewer: F. Huq, Lake Erie College
Interdisciplinary Subject: Food and Agriculture
Subject: Social & Behavioral Sciences – Economics
Choice Issue: Jul 2024

Food Waste, Food Insecurity, and the Globalization of Food Banks

Ahead of Thanksgiving, this week’s review presents case studies on the benefits and drawbacks of using food banks to tackle food insecurity and food waste.