In the 1840s, potatoes were a staple food for people living across the seas in Ireland. Potatoes were practically the only food that the poor population of rural areas consumed for all meals. However, the potato was also a staple in the diets of middle- and upper-class citizens, even if they could afford more expensive foods. In 1845, the Irish population expected to have a favorable potato crop. However, when farmers dug up that year's expected harvest, they found themselves faced with a black, liquid mess. This led to a 50% loss of potatoes and each family had to fend for themselves and harvest as many potatoes as they needed. Potato crops got increasingly worse from 1845 to 1847. Three years of bad potato crops devastated the country of Ireland in more ways than one. What we now know as the Irish Potato Famine caused many health and economic problems for Irish citizens. Between 1846 and 1850 the Irish population fell dramatically by two million people. Of these two million people, approximately one million died from starvation and famine-associated diseases. The other million have emigrated to other parts of the world, hoping to give their family a better life. Although extreme, this famine is one of the most famous examples of food insecurity in the world. After events like this, it is clear that all countries, including the United States, should take food safety very seriously. According to the World Health Organization definition, food security is defined as “when all people at all times have access to sufficient and safe resources”. , nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.” This concept of food security also includes physical and economic access to food that meets dietary needs and... middle of paper... trition as a child can affect how the brain develops and responds to situations . Malnutrition can cause structural deficiencies in the brain that can hinder a child's ability to learn. This can cause problems with cognitive development and even social development. Another developmental problem that can occur due to malnutrition is mental retardation. Continued malnutrition can limit brain growth and ultimately result in abnormal levels of cognitive and mental functioning. Mental retardation can cause slow motor skills and difficulty mastering daily activities, creating a variety of problems in a child's life. When a malnourished child becomes an adult, he or she is more likely to develop cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's. After discussing these conditions, it is clear that food insecurity can cause numerous problems in the lives of both children and adults..