STATEMENT OF POLICY Healthy Food Access

Policy Many residents of urban and rural areas lack access to healthy foods within their communities. Inadequate healthy food sources have perpetuated chronic diseases in low-income and minority communities. Local health departments have developed initiatives that aim to reduce the availability of unhealthy foods in communities and increase the accessibility and availability of healthy foods. Increasing access to healthy food and reducing the availability of unhealthy foods will require the following: Government food procurement practices; Healthy community design; and Local healthy food policies. The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) makes the following recommendations to enhance the accessibility and availability of healthy foods as a means to prevent and reduce chronic diseases: The Department of Agriculture should allow and expand state/local projects designed to promote healthier food purchases by beneficiaries of th