America's former president Trump advocated for restoring the nation's greatness - now, an ancient affliction reemerges
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In the United States, there are areas known as food deserts, where many low-income people live far from the nearest supermarket. These regions, often found in rural areas, are characterized by a lack of affordable fresh fruits and vegetables. This situation, exacerbated during the Trump administration, has not fully recovered even post-COVID-19.
Scurvy, a disease caused by severe vitamin C deficiency, is making a comeback in the United States. Historically associated with seafarers who couldn't consume fresh fruit or vegetables for long periods, scurvy is now affecting low-income Americans, particularly those living in food deserts.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) tracks these areas in the Food Access Research Atlas and estimates that about 18.8 million Americans have limited access to fresh products in these regions. Other measurements suggest up to 53.6 million people in the United States live in food deserts.
During the Trump administration, there were various debates and limited policy changes around food assistance programs, but overall federal efforts to expand nutrition support were mixed. Some analyses suggest regulatory rollbacks impacted food security negatively for vulnerable populations.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated food insecurity nationwide, particularly in low-income and rural areas, by disrupting supply chains, increasing unemployment, and straining food assistance programs. This likely worsened access to nutrient-rich foods, including those high in vitamin C.
Vitamin C deficiency and scurvy in the U.S. are rare but persistently reported among marginalized populations, including those in rural food deserts, due to lack of fresh produce availability and affordability. One TikToker, affected by the limited access to fresh products in food deserts, has reported a diagnosis of scurvy.
The political climate under Trump discouraged people from using services, particularly affecting neighborhoods where the supermarket is far away and the food program makes a crucial difference. People with migrant backgrounds in the US are particularly affected by the discouragement to use food programs due to fears of immigration-related penalties.
In the UK, regions are also affected by scurvy cases due to fruit and vegetable shortages. The state in the UK is actively addressing vitamin deficiency, with mobile vegetable vendors traveling to areas where it's easier to buy an e-cigarette than an apple.
Fast food is often cheaper than fresh fruit and vegetables in the US, leading many low-income people and students to opt for unhealthy food. The underreporting of vitamin C deficiency in the US is significant due to poor medical systems in rural areas and people having to pay for their own doctor visits.
While specific data on scurvy trends during Trump's term and post-pandemic is lacking in recent publications, systemic issues in food accessibility and nutrition insecurity remain critical concerns requiring targeted policy intervention.
- The reemergence of scurvy, a disease associated with vitamin C deficiency, is particularly evident among low-income Americans living in food deserts, due to the lack of fresh produce availability and affordability, a situation exacerbated during the Trump administration.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, the lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables in food deserts not only contributes to the persistence of scurvy but also encourages the consumption of fast food, leading to fitness-and-exercise challenges among those living in these areas.
- Political discourse, especially during the Trump administration, has played a role in shaping the health landscape of food deserts, as fears of immigration-related penalties and limited advocacy for nutrition support have discouraged the use of food programs in affected communities.
