Hunger In The United States Is Real
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
What Is Food Insecurity?
According to the USDA’s Economic Research Service,
33.8 million
Americans lived in food-insecure households in 2021.
Food insecurity means you lack reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.
Here are some other things to know about hunger in the U.S.
Millions of households are affected
Both adults and children affected by hunger can experience serious consequences ranging from poor productivity in their daily life to being at greater risk of physical and mental illnesses, including hypertension and diabetes.
According to the USDA, 10.2 percent (13.5 million) of U.S. households were food insecure at some point throughout 2021.
On average, 10.2% of all households were food insecure in 2021. However, 19.8% of Black households were food insecure, and 16.2% of Hispanic households were food insecure.
Households with children are more susceptible to food insecurity. 12.5% of households with children were food insecure, compared to the 10.2% national average.
Sources:
U.S. Department of Agriculture Key Statistics & Graphics, U.S. Department of Agriculture Charts and Highlights
There is Such A Thing As A "Food Desert"
People who live in food deserts often experience food insecurity because food is harder to get.
In 2015, a USDA study found that more than 23 million people both lived in a food desert and lacked access to a vehicle, making it even harder to access food.
A “food desert” is defined by how far you live from a supermarket.
In cities, that means more than a mile away.
In rural areas, it's greater than 10 miles.
11 years ago, the USDA found that groceries sold in food deserts can cost significantly more than groceries sold in suburban markets, meaning people in low-income communities impacted by food insecurity often pay more money for their food. Milk prices, for example, were about 5% more in some spots while prices for cereal were sometimes 25% higher.
Source: Food Insecurity In The U.S. By The Numbers, npr.org
