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Food insecurity is a well documented social determinant of health and a public health issue. Food shaming is strongly discouraged by pediatric experts due to its documented detrimental impact on children. While some of the social media comments may have be inaccurate, the vast majority of them and the public outcry has undeniably been directly related to the concern for the well being of children and the apparent lack of it by the Warwick School Department. It is a very dangerous and ignorant assumption that not qualifying for the National School Lunch Program means a family can afford it. The fact that the School Committee thoroughly vetted and passed, was ready to implement, and in some cases applauded, their policy on food shaming is at the core of the national outrage. Many other issues further escalated coverage such as refusing donations to assist families, a system that does not allow parental controls/authorization, and fees for online payment that discriminate against those that cannot afford charging large sums at one time (all of these discovered through social media conversation). While this situation should raise awareness of important children's health issues and hold our leaders more accountable for implementing systems that prioritize children, this editorial trivializes those concerns and contributes to the problems plaguing Warwick's children.

From: EDITORIAL: Let them eat facts - A cautionary lesson in outrage culture

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