Food insecurity has continued to rise, according to the USDA’s latest report.
“Food insecurity” is defined by the USDA as a state where a household’s “ability to acquire adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources.” This includes being unable to buy enough food or to afford balanced meals and regular portion sizes, as well as skipping meals, experiencing hunger and worrying about food.
Last year, almost 18% of households with children experienced food insecurity, an increase from 2022 (17.3%) and 2021 (12.5%).
Food insecurity was driven up by the pandemic, beginning in 2020, and spiralling inflation has intensified the hardship for many families. Rates of food insecurity among households with children are still lower than during the depression years of 2008-2011.
Food insecurity among all households was up to 13.5% from 10.2% in 2021.
The share of adults living in food-insecure households increased from 13.5% in 2022 to 14.3% last year, and the share of children living in such households grew from 18.5% to 19.2%.
In the survey, households classified as having very-low food security, an estimated 6.8 million households nationwide, reported the following conditions.
98% reported having worried that their food would run out before they got money to buy more.
97% reported that the food they bought just did not last, and they did not have money to get more.
96% reported that they could not afford to eat balanced meals.
97% reported that an adult had cut the size of meals or skipped meals because there was not enough money for food.
88% reported that this had occurred in 3 or more months.
93% reported that they had eaten less than they felt they should because there was not enough money for food.
68% reported that they had been hungry but did not eat because they could not afford enough food.
51% reported having lost weight because they did not have enough money for food.
30% reported that an adult did not eat for a whole day because there was not enough money for food.
23% reported that this had occurred in 3 or more months.