Guest Blog: Food Insecurity: A Global Threat to Children

As part of BNY Mellon’s global initiative to raise awareness of food security and waste, R. Jeep Bryant, executive vice president for marketing and corporate affairs, shares his thoughts on the issues. This is the second in a four-part series.

Food Insecurity: A Global Threat to Children

Sadly, all over the world, many kids don’t have what they need to grow up, get an education and contribute to society.

Of the many factors that can prevent kids from reaching their potential, food insecurity is one that doesn’t immediately come to mind. However, children are particularly vulnerable when it comes to food insecurity, since under-nutrition can create a vicious cycle that’s hard to break. Undernourished girls are more likely to become undernourished women who give birth to underweight or stunted babies. And poor nutrition, both before and after a child is born, is devastating in that it produces long-term and sometimes irreversible outcomes.

Lack of proper nutrients during the earliest phases of a child’s growth stops the brain from developing properly. Studies have shown that children who experience this type of malnutrition are less literate and have more problems with math than their peers and can earn less than 20 percent less in adulthood, regardless of other factors.

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R. Jeep Bryant is Executive Vice President for Marketing & Corporate Affairs at BNY Mellon. He leads a global team responsible for advancing the company's reputation across a broad range of functions including marketing communications, brand management, advertising, public relations, internal communications, philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. He serves as chairman of the BNY Mellon Foundation and is a member of the company's Operating Committee.