Food insecurity affects thousands of individuals and families every year. A main way an area is identified as being food insecure is if it meets the criteria of a food desert. For an area to be defined as a food desert it must meet specific criteria that are created by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). These guidelines are supposed to accurately identify the locations that are at the greatest risk for food insecurity, however these guidelines are flawed. Food insecurity is a complex web of social, economic, political, and racial factors that must be taken into consideration if an accurate depiction of food insecurity is to be obtained. The two main criteria used by the USDA for defining food deserts are low-income and low access. This paper is going to analyze the USDA’s definitions of low access and low income. As well as identify factors that fail to be considered by the USDA’s guidelines, such as race and accessibility. To better understand these guidelines and their effects on a community two neighboring cities in Stark County, Ohio will be compared and examined using these guidelines. This comparison will help to demonstrate the institutional racism that still goes on in certain areas as well as the individuals who are more susceptible to food insecurity. As well as result in one city being more deeply impacted when it comes to food because of race, income, and accessibility.