Justice on the Menu

Food is a basic human necessity, and access to nutritious food is essential to people’s health and well-being. However, racial injustice and oppression embedded in the US food system cause economic, environmental, and health harms for many Americans — from farmers, producers, and distributors to restaurant workers, food retailers, and consumers.

To aid changemakers who wish to center racial equity in food systems research, policy, and action, Justice on the Menu offers the following information and tools:

• Introduction & Key Concepts: Background information on the history of racism across many dimensions of US food systems, resulting in land loss for BIPOC communities; low pay and poor working conditions for farm and food workers; and unjust racial and ethnic disparities in rates of hunger, food insecurity, and diet-related diseases
• Policy Menus: state and local policy options that can be implemented to advance health and racial justice through the food system
• Community Spotlights: stories describing how communities are putting policies into action
• Practical & Legal Considerations: notes for changemakers working at the powerful nexus of food justice, health justice, and racial justice, to inform their community partnerships and help them navigate various legal landscapes

The report can be downloaded in full or in individual sections to meet specific needs.

We hope that the ideas and guidance in this resource will foster new conversations, advocacy efforts, partnerships, and research to advance racial justice in our food system.