Don’t cut funding for early-age nutrition

The Gazette deserves thanks for news and editorial coverage of the continuing rise in hunger in Iowa. It is alarming that nearly 21 percent of Iowa's children don't have consistent access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food, despite the efforts of more than 1,000 emergency feeding organizations.

Burgeoning research demonstrates that malnutrition during the period from conception to age 2 produces permanent changes in brain structure and function. Adequate nutrition later cannot undo the damage, which affects cognitive and emotional function and increases risk of heart disease and diabetes.

The federal WIC program provides supplemental nutrition for low-income pregnant women and children up to age 5, thus protecting children during this critical period of brain development. But like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps), WIC is at high risk of major budget cuts. Failing to ensure adequate nutrition for young children incurs far higher societal costs later.

The food provided by all charities in the country amounts to only

6 percent of the food that poor people receive from federal programs such as SNAP and school meals. Charity is thus woefully insufficient to compensate for large cuts to SNAP or WIC. So in addition to generously supporting local food pantries and free meal programs, Eastern Iowans should contact our members of Congress and urge them to block cuts to SNAP or WIC. No Iowa child should be mentally stunted by malnutrition.

Ellen Fisher

Cedar Rapids