The US Department of Agriculture has officially published results from its latest study, which revealed that number of people living in food insecure households across United States, during the year 2023, increased to 47 million, including nearly 14 million children. To give you some context, the stated numbers beat out 44 food insecure million households and 13 million children that were reported during the previous year. In case this wasn’t enough, it is also makes for the highest food insecurity rate since 2014. Talk about USDA’s report on a slightly deeper level, we begin from how, on a geographical note, food insecurity in 2023 was higher across rural areas (16.1%), cities (16.7%), and across the South (16.0%). Having said so, the problem rose, compared to 2022, at a relatively greater rate among people living across suburbs (+13%) and in the West (+17%). Next up, we must dig into a piece of data which claims that food insecurity in single-parent households remained high during 2023. Furthermore, among members of households, with children led by a single female, it rose from 34% in 2022 to almost 36%, affecting 1 in every 3 individuals. Beyond that, food security among members of households with children, led by a single male, also rose from 22% to 23%, affecting 1 in every 4 individuals.
“Today, the USDA released data showing that food insecurity in the United States increased by 6% in 2023. We must not accept that 1 in 7 people, including 1 in 5 children, experience food insecurity in the wealthiest nation in the world,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “These numbers confirm what we have been seeing at food banks, pantries, and meal programs and what we have been hearing from people across the country who are confronted with the high prices of essentials like groceries and housing.”
Moving on, we ought to mention here is how, during 2023, more than 37% of people experiencing food insecurity were found to be ineligible for federal programs. Then, despite income having an inverse relationship with food insecurity, many of the people who experience food insecurity were found to have an income above the federal poverty line. From a statistical standpoint, more than 14.5 million people, facing difficulties to make ends meet, had an income level that was too high to qualify for most federal food assistance benefits. Another key detail worth a mention here is rooted in the fact that food insecurity remains elevated for Black, white, and Latino individuals. Across these communities, though, the problem continues to be much more pervasive among people of color, showing the effect of racial disparities on communities. An example of the same would be how both Black and Latino individuals had food insecurity rate of more than 22%. Not just that, they were also 2.2 times more likely to face hunger than white individuals.
“Hardworking community members experience food insecurity in every county or parish in this country and, perhaps surprisingly to some, they often remain optimistic about the future,” said Babineaux-Fontenot. “Their optimism brings me hope. Feeding America’s Elevating Voices: Insights Report will be released on September 10, and it will show that people experiencing food insecurity want the same things we all want for ourselves—dignity; access to fresh, healthy food; improved health; and genuine opportunity for financial well-being.”
The study in question delivers a rather interesting follow-up to Feed America’s food bank pulse survey data, where it was revealed that more than 80% of food banks expect demand for food assistance to either stay the same in June 2024, as compared to June 2023, or only go up a notch.
“I know we can greatly reduce hunger in America by standing shoulder-to-shoulder with neighbors facing hunger and harnessing our collective power,” said Babineaux-Fontenot. “We have done this before, and we can do it again. To build a food secure future for America, we must unite behind strong, common-sense policies that support families and federal nutrition programs and we must champion community organizations across the country that are working to break cycles that perpetuate hunger.
