USDA Report Shows Food Insecurity Was at its Highest in 2008
November  20, 2009
USDA Report Shows Food Insecurity Was at its Highest in 2008 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) annual report on Household Food Security in the U.S. revealed that in 2008, 17 million households, or 14.6 percent, were food insecure and families had difficulty putting enough food on the table at times during the year. The figures from the report released on November 16, 2009 represent the highest level reported since nationally representative food security surveys were initiated in 1995.  Typically when resources are too scarce to provide for the entire family, children are usually protected from the disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake that characterize very low food security.  However, in 2008, children as well as adults experienced periods of very low food security in 506,000 households (1.3 percent); this is up from 323,000 households (0.8 percent) in 2007. "As the Obama Administration works to foster a robust recovery for all, it's important to recognize that we have another opportunity to improve the health and nutrition of our children when Congress begins to debate the Child Nutrition Reauthorization," said Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack. "It is vital that we make it easier for families and administrators to bring eligible children into the program and to eliminate gap periods when children struggle to find the nutrition assistance they need - at breakfast, during summer, and in after-school settings." USDA's National School Lunch program serves 31 million children a healthy meal each school day, which for some children is their most important meal of the day.  The full study is available at http://www.ers.usda.gov/features/householdfoodsecurity/.


See also:

USDA News Release: USDA Report Reveals Highest Rate of Food Insecurity Since Report Was Initiated in 1995

CHHCS E-journal: Exploring Links Between Food Insecurity and Obesity

CHHCS:  School Lunch & Nutrition: Are your kids eating healthily at school?