Designates Tuesday in third full week of September each year as "Food Allergy and Hunger Awareness Day."
Impact
The resolution intends to bring attention to the significant number of New Jersey residents affected by food insecurity. As of 2019, approximately 1.15 million residents, including over 375,000 children, were reported as food insecure. This legislation underscores the pressing need for community and state-level actions to address the nutritional needs of these populations, particularly through local food pantries and other resources. Furthermore, given that roughly one in ten residents have food allergies, the bill underscores the necessity for increased accessibility to allergy-friendly foods, which are often more costly and less available.
Summary
Senate Joint Resolution No. 33 (SJR33) seeks to designate the Tuesday of the third week of September each year as 'Food Allergy and Hunger Awareness Day' in New Jersey. The bill aims to raise awareness about the complex interplay between food allergies, hunger, and food insecurity, particularly emphasizing the challenges faced by families affected by these issues. The resolution highlights that many individuals and families struggle with food insecurity, defined as the inconsistent access to enough nutritious food due to resource limitations, further exacerbated by the presence of food allergies.
Contention
While the bill serves primarily as a designation meant to promote awareness, it also reflects underlying issues within New Jersey regarding food insecurity and health disparities. The interplay between food allergies and hunger is a lesser-known yet critical area of concern that this resolution aims to spotlight. Addressing these issues can stimulate discussions on potential policy measures, funding for food assistance programs, and educational initiatives focused on food allergies. The resolution requests the Governor to issue annual proclamations, aiming to coordinate observances with other established events related to hunger action, thereby promoting community engagement and support.
Designates month of September each year as "Deaf Awareness Month" in New Jersey; designates last full week of September each year as "Deaf Awareness Week" in New Jersey.