Lack of healthy foods causing health concerns

In most of western Louisville and parts of downtown, it's easier to buy a Twinkie than fresh broccoli.

A lack of full-service supermarkets, low car ownership and an abundance of fast-food and higher-priced convenience stores are limiting access to fresh fruits and vegetables and nurturing poor eating habits.

The result is jeopardizing the health of some of Louisville's poorest residents, according to two recent reports analyzing Louisville's food access.

"There's a lack of equal access to healthy, wholesome, affordable food in a significant sector of the community," said Dr. Adewale Troutman, director of the Louisville Health Department. "And it's a major concern."

A report by Community Farm Alliance, a food advocacy group, characterizes large portions of west Louisville and areas of eastern downtown such as Shelby Park and Smoketown as virtual "food deserts," where choices are limited, prices are higher and quality is lower, especially for fresh produce.

And a Chicago food researcher commissioned by The Courier-Journal found poor access to healthy food choices in some of those same areas.

Among the findings:

West Louisville had one full-service supermarket per 25,000 residents in 2005, compared with one per 12,500 residents countywide, according to Community Farm Alliance. But one-third of west Louisville residents -- and half of east downtown residents -- do not have cars.

More abundant convenience stores charged prices for food that were about 50 percent higher than in supermarkets.

West Louisville and east downtown residents must travel two to five times farther on average to reach a mainstream supermarket than to reach the nearest convenience store or fast food restaurant, said Chicago food researcher Mari Gallagher, whom The Courier-Journal commissioned to study Louisville's grocery access.

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