The Connection Between Obesity and Food Bank Food

            I am a public health intern at a food bank in the rural town of Ellensburg, Washington. In my time working in this facility, I have noticed a few things about the quality of food that comes through the food bank. I have seen food that was expired more than ten years ago! I have also seen food so high in sodium it was like licking the inside of a saltshaker. I have seen the connection between the obesity epidemic in the lower class and the food bank system. Government subsidies make up a large portion of the food that is given out at the food banks. In that government food, there are high levels of salt, fat, cholesterol and sugar. There are next to zero amounts of vital nutrients like vitamins A, B12 and C. What vitamins are in the food comes from enriching the food artificially. Even though the food contains more than enough calories, it does not contain enough nutrients to be considered food.  The same goes for the donated food. The most donated food at the food bank is corn. Canned. Processed. Cheap. Genetically modified corn. Corn is nothing but filler. It is void of all nutrients besides salt and sugar. Not only that, but it is the main subsidy from the government. The people that utilize the food bank are being filled with nothing but corn. This lack of nutrition over time is a contributing factor to many different diseases and conditions ranging from diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and many other diseases. If the upper class is tired of paying for the increases in Medicaid and other programs helping the poor get well, then start with a donation of a healthy food to the local food bank. We are always in need of food that is low in sugar, fat, and sodium. We need food that is actual food. A person cannot make a meal out of corn and sweetened condensed milk alone. Food banks are in constant need for food that has nutritional value and can feed someone. Also, food banks are in need of food year-round. They exist longer than the holiday Feel-Good season. Please keep donating even though Santas in the mall do not remind you of food banks. People are hungry for more than just corn all year. People suffer from preventable diseases all year. Ways to help people exist all year.